Orecchiette with Pancetta & Three Cheeses {Naptime Everyday}
Almost everyone agrees that Macaroni & Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. There is something so inviting about eating a big bowl of pasta curls nestled in a bed of melted cheese, topped with a lightly breaded crust. It is dish that requires no tough cutting of meat, hard chewing or addition of complicated sauces. Every bite is a simple, smooth mouthful of warmth that I, for one, always turn to when in need of a soothing meal.
Over the years I’ve made my mother’s Mac-n-Cheese recipe countless times, but a couple of years ago I discovered a new variation in Bon Appetit. The recipe replaced macaroni with orecchiette, added two additional cheeses, pancetta (as you all know, a favorite of mine), onion, garlic and a hint of spice. The recipe was like my mother’s, only with the flavor volume turned way up.
Last week my daughter was felled with her first (of many, I’m sure) fall cold. It wasn’t fun for any of us. Luckily it was very mild, but her sniffles required that I chase her around with tissues while she tried, somewhat successfully, to dodge my attempts at wiping her nose. (I won’t even get started on the circus that ensued when I had to keep her still for nose drops.) Thankfully the ordeal only lasted about 24 hours, but by the end of it I was spent. Between her sick-day antics and my nose-wiping workout, I wanted a dinner that was hearty, filling and comforting, all at once.
One of my favorite parts about this recipe is that it is a snap to make during my daughter’s afternoon naptime. It only takes a few minutes to form a creamy, rich bechamel sauce full of crispy pancetta. Then I simply mixed it with the freshly cooked pasta, add the panko topping and place it in the oven to bake. In fact, I’ve made this so many times that when I completed it last week I still had enough time to put my feet up before my daughter woke – always a welcome bonus.
When we finally reached dinner I re-heated the dish and served myself a big helping. The panko had crisped just the right amount in the oven so that when cracked with the serving spoon it made a tantalizing crunch. From underneath a little bit of steam released revealing a silky cheese and pasta casserole, studded with just the right amount of crispy pancetta. Needless to say we all greatly enjoyed dinner that evening. I know my family was thrilled to be eating one of their favorite dinners, but I think I was the happiest. My plate was filled with comfort food at its finest. It was my reward for making it through the day, and it was very tasty.
Recipe
Orecchiette with Pancetta & Three Cheeses
adapted from Bon Appetit, September 2008
Ingredients
| 1 | pound orecchiette pasta |
| 6 | tablespoons unsalted butter |
| 4 | ounces pancetta, coarsely chopped |
| 1 | medium yellow onion, finely chopped |
| ½ | teaspoon red pepper flakes |
| 1 | garlic clove, minced |
| ¼ | cup all-purpose flour |
| 3 | cups whole milk |
| 2 ½ | cups cheddar cheese |
| 1 | cup Parmesan cheese |
| 8 | ounces mascarpone cheese |
| 1 ¾ | cup Panko breadcrumbs |
Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350. Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package instructions. Drain pasta and set aside.
2. Melt 1 T. of butter in a large, deep skillet. Add pancetta and let it crisp for 6-8 minutes, until it has the texture of almost cooked bacon. Then, add the onion and stir gently until it is soft and slightly golden. Add the garlic and red pepper, stir for 2 minutes, making sure it is evenly distributed.
3. To the pancetta mixture add 2 T. butter and allow it to melt. Add flour and stir for a minute, allowing it to thicken. Then, working quickly, whisk in milk. Be sure to keep whisking to make the roux and get out any lumps in the sauce. Stir for about five minutes, or until the milk starts to thicken and can coat the back of a spoon.
4. Remove the sauce from the heat and add the cheddar, parmesan and mascarpone. Stir well to make sure all of the cheeses are incorporated. If sauce it too thick, add more milk by the ¼ cupfuls to loosen it up. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper as needed.
5. Gently, pour the pasta into the prepared sauce and stir to make sure it is all mixed together. Then, pour it into a 9×13 baking dish.
7. To prepare the breadcrumbs, melt 3 T. butter in a shallow pan and add panko. Swirl the panko and butter gently in the skillet with a wooden spoon, toasting panko until just golden. Remove from heat. Spread toasted panko evenly over top of the casserole.
8. Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Can be made ahead of time and re-heated.
Naptime Notes
Naptime Recipe Serving ideas
As noted above, this dish is the ultimate comfort food. I love that it is a more mature version, full of different flavors and spices. If you feel like adding different seasonings or spices go ahead and play around a little.
Naptime Stopwatch
Preparing the sauce and pasta takes about 30 minutes, then another 30 minutes of cooking time. The best part? This takes an hour to make and can feed the family for at least two nights!
Naptime Reviews
My family wholeheartedly agrees that this is the best macaroni and cheese next to my mothers. They love the different flavors that seem to make it richer and more adult. However, my daughter loves this, as well. I am sure other kids would, too.
This is indeed a comfort food and I can have a big bowl of it.
This is indeed a comfort food and I can have a big bowl of it.
I've also caught the autumn cold and this recipe is the ideal dish for the comfort food cravings I'm having.
I've also caught the autumn cold and this recipe is the ideal dish for the comfort food cravings I'm having.
Yum… it's like mac and cheese with bacon, but better and all grown up with pancetta and more sophisticated cheeses! It sounds (and looks) perfect for a fall get-together! I don't usually make mac and cheese for company, but I think this one would be a winner!
Yum… it's like mac and cheese with bacon, but better and all grown up with pancetta and more sophisticated cheeses! It sounds (and looks) perfect for a fall get-together! I don't usually make mac and cheese for company, but I think this one would be a winner!
That sounds heavenly just about now – printing…
That sounds heavenly just about now – printing…
Super recipe! I love those little pastas! Getting to be timie for mac and cheese!
Super recipe! I love those little pastas! Getting to be timie for mac and cheese!
The selection of cheeses in the dish look yummy! Have you ever substituted any one of them and was the flavor noticeably different? I'm not even sure if I've ever cooked with mascarpone…
The selection of cheeses in the dish look yummy! Have you ever substituted any one of them and was the flavor noticeably different? I'm not even sure if I've ever cooked with mascarpone…
The fall cold seems to have traveled from your house to ours, my daughter has it now. Hopefully the rest of us will not succomb. Your mac and cheese is on my menu for tomorrow night, this evening it's chicken and rice. We're all about the comfort right now.Annie
The fall cold seems to have traveled from your house to ours, my daughter has it now. Hopefully the rest of us will not succomb. Your mac and cheese is on my menu for tomorrow night, this evening it's chicken and rice. We're all about the comfort right now.
Annie
OH MY! That looks so yummy and I know my kids would love it as well!
OH MY! That looks so yummy and I know my kids would love it as well!
This is wonderful! I would have never thought to put mascarpone cheese in – and now I can't wait to try it. With autumn here, I am ready for some warm, yummy dishes.
This is wonderful! I would have never thought to put mascarpone cheese in – and now I can't wait to try it. With autumn here, I am ready for some warm, yummy dishes.
It does sound comforting! Glad she is feeling better. It's hard to see your little ones sick!
It does sound comforting! Glad she is feeling better. It's hard to see your little ones sick!
This looks incredible!! TY for suggesting it.. just by looking at what is in it I can tell our family is going to love it!
This looks incredible!! TY for suggesting it.. just by looking at what is in it I can tell our family is going to love it!
This looks incredible! Would you like to submit this dish for the 5 Star Makeover? I already know the link and that's all I need, so just let me know!
This looks incredible! Would you like to submit this dish for the 5 Star Makeover? I already know the link and that's all I need, so just let me know!
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