HAM AND CHEESE PASTA BAKE

By porklion

Ingredients

• Topping:
• 3 Tbls Butter
• 1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Onion
• 2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
• 1/3 Cup All-purpose Flour
• 3 Cups Milk
• 8 Ounces Melting Cheese (Fontina, Gruyere, Asiago, Gorgonzola, etc)
• Salt and Pepper
• 1/2 Tsp Dried Oregano1 1/2 Cups Diced Ham or Pork Loin
• Cauliflower or Broccoli Florets cut into small pieces
• 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley
• 1/2 Pound Dried Pasta (rigatoni, Penne, etc)
• 1 1/2 Cup Homemade Bread Crumbs
• 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
• Salt and Pepper
• 2 Tbls Olive Oil

Details

Servings 4
Adapted from italianfoodforever.com

Preparation

Step 1

Heat butter in large saucepan. Once melted, add onion and cook until translucent. Add garlic and flour and stir well until mixed. Cook an additional minute. Slowly add the milk, whisking into the flour mixture until smooth. Add cheese and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently. Season with salt, pepper, and oregano. Continue to cook until sauce is smooth and thickened.

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling water for 6 minutes. Add cauliflower or broccoli to pot and cook an additional 3-4 minutes. Drain. Return pasta and veggies to pot, add sauce, parsley, and ham. Stir well to combine.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a casserole dish with butter or oil and spoon pasta into prepared dish.

In frying pan, add oil and breadcrumbs and cook until lightly brown and crisp. Season with salt and pepper, and stir in cheese. Sprinkle topping over past and cover casserole dish. Bake pasta until bubbly, about 25 - 30 minutes. Remove cover and cook an additional 10 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.