Baked Penne With Fennel

Serves: 6

Roxane Raynor

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

31

Spice

36

Sweetness

59

Sourness

44

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.4

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 medium

Onion (chopped)

1 cup

Heavy Cream

340 g

Penne

Directions:

1

Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 450

2

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil

3

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat

4

Add the pancetta and cook, stirring, until the fat renders, 2 to 3 minutes

5

Pour off the fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan

6

Add the onion and fennel and cook until the fennel is soft, about 5 minutes

7

Crush the tomatoes into the pan with your hands, then pour in the juices from the can and bring to a simmer

8

Fill the empty can with 1/2 cup of the boiling water and add to the sauce

9

Stir in the cream and simmer while you cook the pasta

10

Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente

11

Drain and add to the sauce

12

Stir in the basil and 1/2 cup parmesan

13

Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, season with salt and toss

14

Oil a 9-by-13-inch baking dish

15

Layer the pasta, mozzarella, fontina and the remaining 1/2 cup parmesan in the dish, alternating pasta and cheese

16

Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil

17

Bake, uncovered, until browned and bubbly, about 15 minutes

18

Photograph by Antonis Achilleos