Published on Emerils.com (https://www.emerils.com)

Recipe
Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage And Fennel [1]

Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage And Fennel

Fennel adds great flavor to this classic ziti.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: About 1 1/2 hours
  • Yield: 6 to 8 servings
[2]

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons bleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 cups milk
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 1/4 cups freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (about 5 ounces)
  • 1 1/2 pounds sweet Italian fennel sausage, cut into 1/2-inch slices (or removed from casings)
  • 1 large fennel bulb, trimmed, cored, and coarsely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 pound dried ziti or penne
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Generously butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter.

  • Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour and let cook, stirring constantly, without browning the flour, for about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk 1/2 cup at a time, and season with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, the pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer, whisking often, and cook until thick, about 5 minutes. Whisk in 1/2 cup of the grated cheese. Remove from the heat, cover, and keep warm.

  • Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook in batches until just browned, about 4 minutes. Set aside on a plate. Add the fennel to the pan and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Return the sausage to the pan and continue to cook 2 to 3 minutes longer until flavors are blended.

  • Meanwhile, bring 1 gallon water and the remaining 2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Add the ziti and cook, stirring occasionally to keep the pasta from sticking together, until just al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain, then return to the pot.

  • Toss the pasta with the olive oil. Add the sausage mixture, the cream sauce, and basil and mix well.

  • Spread the pasta in the prepared dish and sprinkle with the remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

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Recipe Details

  • Source: Prime Time Emeril Cookbook [5]
  • Dish Type: Pastas [6]
  • Cuisine: Italian [7]
  • Cooking Method: Combination [8]
  • Occasion: Any [9]
  • Effort Level: Moderate [10]

Tags

pasta [11], comfort food [12], winter [13], Feeding a Crowd [14], sausage [15], Game Day Favorites [16]

Reviews

Source URL: https://www.emerils.com/123415/baked-ziti-italian-sausage-and-fennel