Penne with Pancetta, Spinach, and Buttery Crumb Topping

Pancetta is cured pork, similar in taste to bacon. The pancetta and cheesy sauce make this pasta dish a good vehicle for spinach, a vegetable Aaron wouldn't ordinarily enjoy. Serve with salad.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)

Ingredients

• 8  ounces  French bread
• Cooking spray
• 3/4  cup  (3 ounces) chopped pancetta
• 3/4  cup  chopped onion
• 2  teaspoons  minced garlic
• 1/3  cup  all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 ounces)
• 3 3/4  cups  2% reduced-fat milk, divided
• 1/4  cup  half-and-half
• 6  cups  chopped fresh spinach
• 1/2  cup  (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1 1/4  teaspoons  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  black pepper
• 8  cups  hot cooked penne (about 1 pound uncooked tube-shaped pasta)
• 1/4  cup  butter, melted

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°.

Place bread in a food processor; pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs measure 4 cups; set aside.

Heat a large nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat. Coat with cooking spray. Add pancetta, onion, and garlic; sauté 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Place flour in a small bowl; gradually add 3/4 cup milk, stirring until smooth. Add flour mixture, remaining 3 cups milk, and half-and-half to pan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat, and simmer 2 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. Add spinach; cook 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese, salt, and pepper, stirring until cheese melts.

Place pasta in a large bowl. Add sauce mixture to pasta; toss well. Spoon mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine breadcrumbs and butter; toss well. Sprinkle over pasta mixture.

Bake at 425° for 6 minutes or until crumbs are lightly browned.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

505 (29% from fat)

Fat:

16.1g (sat 7.9g,mono 5.6g,poly 1.6g)

Protein:

19.5g

Carbohydrate:

70.8g

Fiber:

3.8g

Cholesterol:

37mg

Iron:

3.6mg

Sodium:

893mg

Calcium:

157mg