I seem to have stumbled across a whole bunch of pasta recipes that are prepared in cast iron skillets. I love these types of dishes because they’re so easy to put together. Pasta dishes, soups, casseroles – I just can’t get enough.
Today’s recipe is another easy, but really good one. It’s made with ziti and melted leeks. If you’re a leek lover, you’re going to enjoy this dish. Basically, all you need to do is simmer down the leeks in some butter until they’re nice and soft. After that, make the sauce and then add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Mix, sprinkle some cheese on top and bake. It’s so good and so tasty.
Ingredients
Serves: 6
1/2 Stick Butter
2 Large Leeks, Trimmed and Chopped
1 Teaspoon Garlic, Minced
1 Teaspoon Dried Thyme
2 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
2 Cups Whole Milk
2 Cups Sharp White Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
16-Ounce Box of Ziti, Cooked
3/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1 Tablespoon Parsley, Chopped
Step-by-Step Instructions
I’d like to thank Southern Cast Iron for this recipe. This is just another in a long list of recipes I’ve prepared from this resource and it’s delicious.
Pre-Heat Oven
Arrange your oven racks so one is in the center position. Then, pre-heat the oven to 400°.
Cook the Pasta
Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box. I filled a pot about half way with water, added one tablespoon of salt to the water and then brought everything to a boil over high heat. After that, I added the pasta and let it cook for 11 minutes. Finally, I poured the contents of the pot into a colander in my sink and set the colander aside.
Soften the Leeks
Warm a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the butter to the skillet and then add the leeks, thyme and the garlic. Stir and let the leeks soften for about 10 minutes.
Make the Sauce
Add the flour to the skillet and stir in well. Then, slowly add the milk to the skillet. Continue stirring the milk until the mixture begins to simmer. After that, add in half of the cheddar cheese and stir until it’s melted.
Combine Ingredients
Next, add the pasta, salt, pepper and nutmeg to the skillet and mix everything together well. Finally, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of everything.
Bake the Ziti
Place the skillet in the oven for 30 minutes or until the cheese on top is bubbly and lightly browned. Once you see that, remove the skillet from the oven and turn off the heat. You can now sprinkle the parsley on top of the pasta to make things look exciting.
Plate & Serve
Scoop out the servings with a big spoon and place each one on individual plates while the food is hot. Serve and enjoy!
The Final Baked Ziti Dish
I really do enjoy preparing food like this in my cast iron skillet. I feel like I’m living way back when and to be honest, whatever I make in it is delicious. If you do decide to give this dish a try, please let me know your thoughts in the comment section below. Thanks for reading!
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