Mac-n-Cheese-n-Spin-occolini Bake

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Show: 30 Minute MealsEpisode: Kidding Around

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (6)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(6)

Cook Time:
20 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 to 6 servings

Times:

Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 20 min
Total:: 45 min

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Ingredients

1 box chopped frozen spinach
Salt
1 pound cavatappi, hollow corkscrew pasta or other short cut pasta
1 bunch broccolini, trimmed and chopped into 2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk
Black pepper
Nutmeg, grated, to taste
1 cup grated provolone
1 cup shredded Asiago
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Directions

Defrost spinach in microwave. Wring out and separate, reserve.

While the spinach defrosts, bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat for the pasta and a pan with a few inches of water to a boil over medium heat for the broccolini. Salt the boiling water and cook pasta to just-shy of al dente. Cook the broccolini for 3 minutes, then shock in a bowl of cold water and drain well.

Return the pan that you cooked the broccolini in, to the stove top over medium heat and add 3 tablespoons butter. When the butter has melted, whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the milk and whisk to combine. Cook the sauce for 5 minutes, to thicken, then season with salt, pepper and nutmeg, to taste. Reduce the heat to low. When pasta is almost ready, and the provolone and Asiago cheeses to the sauce.

Heat the broiler or the oven to high.

In a large bowl, combine the pasta with the spinach, broccolini and sauce. Transfer to individual casseroles or a large single casserole dish. Top with the Parmesan cheese and brown under the broiler or in hot oven for a couple of minutes. Remove from the oven and serve.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Mac-n-Cheese-n-Spin-occolini Bake
Devon Pelham, AL 01-09-2010
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Wonderful!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Just made this for dinner. I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out fantastic. The cheese sauce was incredibly. I... was even able to get my two boys (4 & 3) to eat it!!! Definitely a great way to get them to eat their veggies!!!Read more
recipe Mac-n-Cheese-n-Spin-occolini Bake
e charlotte, NC 11-27-2009
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a waste
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

My poor mom made this dish last night. We ate it to be polite, but it was honestly terrible. The cheeses in the recipe... didn't melt down into the sauce well, so you had a combo of thin bechamel and stringy cheese lumps. Ma is not the worlds best cook, so some may have been user error, but seriously, a mac n cheese recipe should be impossible to screw up. A pooper for sure.Read more
recipe Mac-n-Cheese-n-Spin-occolini Bake
aryn fayetteville, GA 11-20-2009
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Good but probably won't make it again
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I found this to be a little dry. It has a good flavor but not the creamy consistancy I love about mac and cheese.
recipe Mac-n-Cheese-n-Spin-occolini Bake
Betsy Lake Wales, FL 11-14-2009
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Average
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

I was very excited to try this recipe. I switched the cheese to sharp cheddar because that is what I had on hand. It was very... easy to make. I did like the spinach and broccoli mixed in with the pasta. I felt like the sauce was a little bland. Maybe this is because I used sharp cheddar. I will try it again but maybe stick with the cheeses that she used. I could tell it was average because I didn't have to race my husband for the leftovers the next day.Read more
recipe Mac-n-Cheese-n-Spin-occolini Bake
KELLY Woodstock, GA 11-10-2009
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Healthy Mac n Cheese
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

Well, this looked so good on Rachael's show that I went to my pantry and fridge to see if I could concoct something similar. ... Had some broccoli and spinach. Only had whole grain penne rigate pasta and no milk. So, I used chicken stock and some sour cream instead. Honestly it came out delicious....wish I would have added some garlic. Hers still looked better! I love Rachael's cooking techniques because she encourages you to not worry about being perfect and try new things. Read more
recipe Mac-n-Cheese-n-Spin-occolini Bake
Kate Richfield, MN 11-07-2009
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AWESOME Mac & Cheese!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I've never tried mac & cheese from scratch...this was easy and excellent. Adding the broccoli and spinach is a really nice... touch.Read more