Name: Four-Cheese Baked Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H20M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT1H15M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT1H35M0.000S
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients: Kosher salt; 1 28-ounce can whole plum tomatoes, crushed by hand; 1 pound mezzi rigatoni; 4 ounces rosemary focaccia, toasted and cut into cubes (about 2 cups); 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (about 1 ounce); 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley; 1/2 cup roughly chopped sun-dried tomatoes (not oil-packed); 1 pound part-skim mozzarella cheese, cubed; 1 1/2 cups grated asiago cheese (about 6 ounces); 8 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese; 1 head garlic; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the baking dish; 1 onion, chopped; 1 bulb fennel, thinly sliced, plus 1 tablespoon chopped fennel fronds; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 2 tablespoons tomato paste

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Halve the garlic crosswise to expose the cloves. Wrap the bottom half in foil and roast until very soft, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, remove the skins from the top half and chop the garlic.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sliced fennel and cook, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, about 2 more minutes. Add the tomato paste and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the tomatoes and 4 cups water; stir. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Drain, rinse under cold water and set aside.
Pulse the focaccia in a food processor to make coarse crumbs. Squeeze the roasted garlic from its skin and add to the food processor along with 1/4 cup each parmesan and parsley; pulse a few more times until combined. Set the breadcrumbs aside.
Lightly brush a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Add the pasta and sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce along with the fennel fronds, mozzarella, asiago and the remaining 1/4 cup each parmesan and parsley; toss. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Top with spoonfuls of the ricotta and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs.
Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until golden and bubbling, about 15 more minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Cook’s Note

Freeze it! Make the pasta until the end of step 5, then cover the dish tightly with foil and freeze for up to 3 weeks. Bake at 425 degrees F from frozen, covered, 1 hour. Uncover and continue baking 25 to 30 more minutes.

Photograph by Justin Walker

Courtesy of Food Network Magazine

Four-Cheese Baked Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

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