Baked Rigatoni with Bechamel Sauce

Name: Baked Rigatoni with Bechamel Sauce
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H25M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H30M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H55M0.000S
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: european
Ingredients: 1 stick unsalted butter (4 ounces); 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 quart whole milk, at room temperature; Pinch fresh nutmeg; Sea salt and white pepper; 1 cup grated fontina; 1/2 pound thinly sliced prosciutto, julienned; 1 pound dry rigatoni; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced

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Level: Intermediate
Total: 55 min

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 30 min

Yield: 6 servings

Level: Intermediate
Total: 55 min

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 30 min

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

1 stick unsalted butter (4 ounces)

1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 quart whole milk, at room temperature

Pinch fresh nutmeg

Sea salt and white pepper

1 cup grated fontina

1/2 pound thinly sliced prosciutto, julienned

1 pound dry rigatoni

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
In a 2 quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Always stirring, gradually add the milk and continue to whisk until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Simmer until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. This will take approximately 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in nutmeg, 1/2 cup fontina, prosciutto and season with salt and white pepper. Set aside.
In a large pot, bring to a boil 6 quarts of salted water. Add the rigatoni and cook for about 5 minutes. Since you will be cooking the pasta a second time in the oven, you want to make sure the inside is still hard. Drain in a colander. Return pasta to the pot and pour in bechamel sauce. Using a wooden spoon, mix well until all the pasta is coated with the sauce.
Into a greased 13-by-9-inch baking dish, pour the pasta with cream sauce. Smooth out top and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup fontina. Dot the top with diced butter and bake in oven for 25 minutes or until bubbling and the top is golden brown.