It is a hearty, rustic, warm-you-from-the-inside baked pasta casserole. It’s what to make when the climate report icons are snowflakes or thunderclouds. Mustard notes reduce into the starchy goodness of potatoes and pasta. Dueling cheeses bridge all of the elements, and shredded cabbage and leeks ship winter inexperienced. It’s the type of factor you may prep a day or two forward of time, then bake when handy. The type of meals that pairs nicely with a stormy night time.
Why I Love This Recipe
Let’s break it down a bit. The factor that makes this recipe particular is arguably the play between the starchiness of the pasta and potatoes and the extra intense chew of the mustard. You may, in fact, alter the quantity of mustard to your liking. The quantity notice down beneath is straight up the center. It’s neither meek or assertive as soon as the casserole is baked. However have in mind, the kind of mustard additionally, you will be an element. What I am attempting to say is: be at liberty to regulate to your tastes.
You may see the chop of the cabbage within the photograph up above. However notice, you may reduce it extra finely should you just like the cabbage to mix in additional. Alternately, you would possibly go along with wider ribbons should you just like the cabbage element extra pronounced. You may see the pasta element beneath – earlier than boiling and after.
Baked Pasta: Serving Concepts
This begs to be served alongside an enormous inexperienced salad. One thing like this kale salad. Or, this Anna Jones salad is at all times successful. For those who’re up some one thing a bit surprising and completely superior, this cilantro salad is your transfer.
If a salad feels too bold, roast some broccoli whereas the casserole is baking, and do a roasted model of this Broccoli Apple Salad. This roasted broccoli can be at all times fast to vanish. And one final thought, if you’ve any kale chips readily available, I like to bathe the baked pasta with them earlier than serving.
Inspiration and Variations
Like most casseroles or lasagnas, this can be a little bit of a challenge. However, ultimately, there’s a good quantity of meals to get pleasure from, and the leftovers are nice. There are additionally infinite methods to tweak it.
- Child-friendly: If in case you have children, I think about a model with macaroni elbows might work.
- Buckwheat Pizzoccheri: The inspiration for right this moment’s recipe got here from a buckwheat casserole I’d make from The Martha Stewart Residing Christmas Cookbook (purple cowl version). She used a buckwheat pizzoccheri and savoy cabbage. The inspiration was seemingly the favored northern Italian pizzoccheri dish that includes conventional buckwheat pasta of the area, cabbage, cheese and a beneficiant quantity of butter. Her model is baked and has served as an excellent leaping off level over time. You may see within the recipe that I name for farro tagliatelle, however you will have success with a variety of pasta shapes and kinds. For instance, fettuccine, penne, damaged lasagne, and so forth. And you may experiment past farro – complete wheat pastas, buckwheat, spelt, they’re going to all work properly right here.
- Shredded Brussels Sprouts: I prefer to make the Brussels Sprouts «Slaw» with Mustard Butter from The Important New York Instances Cookbook (purple cowl). I can think about utilizing sprouts instead of the cabbage right here should you’re extra of a sprout fan, or if that’s what you occur to have readily available.