I used this recipe fto make lobster mac and cheese. I added some gruycre cheese, a little extra salt and pepper, and it made all the difference where flavor is concerned. I expect even without the lobster the flavor would be much better.
Fontina and Mascarpone Baked Pasta
The nutty flavor of fontina and creaminess of mascarpone create a delicious updated version of mac and cheese. If your supermarket doesn't stock mascarpone cheese, substitute full-fat cream cheese. For a dinner party, bake the pasta in individual gratin dishes for 15 minutes.
Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 1/4 cups)
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Nutritional Information
Amount per serving
- Calories: 423
- Calories from fat: 30%
- Fat: 14.3g
- Saturated fat: 8.2g
- Monounsaturated fat: 3.7g
- Polyunsaturated fat: 0.7g
- Protein: 19.3g
- Carbohydrate: 54.6g
- Fiber: 2.1g
- Cholesterol: 46mg
- Iron: 2.4mg
- Sodium: 550mg
- Calcium: 298mg
Ingredients
- 1 pound uncooked penne
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (about 1 ounce)
- 3 cups fat-free milk
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded fontina cheese
- 1/4 cup (2 ounces) mascarpone cheese
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Cooking spray
- 3 (1-ounce) slices white bread
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Preparation
- Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain; keep warm.
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and milk in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring with a whisk. Cook 10 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly with a whisk. Remove from heat; add cheeses, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Stir in salt and black pepper. Add cooked pasta, stirring to coat. Spoon pasta mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
- Tear bread into several pieces. Place bread in a food processor; process until fine crumbs measure 1 1/2 cups.
- Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds. Remove from heat. Stir in breadcrumbs until well combined. Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture evenly over pasta mixture. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with parsley.
Fontina and Mascarpone Baked Pasta Recipe at a Glance
- COURSE: Main Dishes
- CONVENIENCE: Entertaining, Kid-Friendly, Make-Ahead
- CUISINE: American
- MAIN INGREDIENT: Pasta
- COOKING METHOD: Bake, Food Processor
- OCCASION: Autumn, Spring, Summer, Winter
- PUBLICATION: Cooking Light
More Recipes for Main Dishes
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Fontina-Stuffed Baked Salmon with Herb Jus
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