Cavatappi in a Tomato Cream Sauce: Pancetta and Spinach

🥘 Ingredients

• black pepper
  1 tsp
• butter
  1 tbsp
• cavatappi pasta
  8 oz
• crushed tomatoes
  8 oz
• flour
  1 tbsp
• garlic
  2 cloves
• milk
  ⅓ cup
• pancetta
  2 oz
• panko breadcrumbs
  ¼ cup
• parmesan cheese
  2 oz
• parsley
  3 sprigs
• salt
  1 tsp
• spinach
  2 oz
• vegetable oil
  1 tbsp

🍳 Cookware

• large pot
• small bowl
• large pan

1. 

   1

   Wash and dry all produce. Preheat broiler to high or oven to 500 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Mince or grate garlic . Roughly chop parsley . Once water is boiling, add cavatappi pasta to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente ⏱️ 10 minutes . Drain.

   garlic: 2 cloves, parsley: 3 sprigs, cavatappi pasta: 8 oz
2. 

   2

   Place butter in a small bowl . Microwave on high until melted ⏱️ 30 seconds . Add panko breadcrumbs and half the parsley to bowl and combine. Season with salt and black pepper .

   butter: 1 tbsp, panko breadcrumbs: ¼ cup, salt: 1 tsp, black pepper: 1 tsp
3. 

   3

   Heat a drizzle of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add half the pancetta and cook, tossing, until crisp ⏱️ 4 minutes . Transfer pancetta to a papertowel-lined plate with a slotted spoon, keeping as much oil in pan as possible.

   vegetable oil: 1 tbsp, pancetta: 2 oz
4. 

   4

   Lower heat under pan to medium. Add garlic and cook until fragrant ⏱️ 30 seconds . Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until starting to brown ⏱️ 1 minute . Slowly pour in milk , stirring vigorously to incorporate into flour. Bring to a boil. Cook until thickened ⏱️ 2 minutes . Remove from heat, then add parmesan cheese and stir until melted.

   flour: 1 tbsp, milk: ⅓ cup, parmesan cheese: 2 oz
5. 

   5

   Add half the crushed tomatoes and half the spinach to pan. Stir to wilt spinach (if leaves do not wilt, return pan to medium heat). Season with salt and pepper. Stir in cavatappi, pancetta, and remaining parsley. Season with salt and pepper. If your pan is not ovenproof, transfer mixture to a small baking dish at this point.

   crushed tomatoes: 8 oz, spinach: 2 oz
6. 

   6

   Sprinkle crust mixture over top of pasta. Broil or bake until crust is golden ⏱️ 2 minutes . Divide pasta between plates and serve.