Friday, October 28, 2011

Fusilli with Three Cheeses and Red Bell Peppers

Ingredients: 

4 tablespoons butter
2 red bell peppers, cut into thin strips
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 pound fusilli
1/4 pound fontina cheese, grated (about 1 cup)
3 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated (about 3/4 cup)
6 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper

Directions: 

In a medium frying pan, melt one tablespoon of the butter over moderately low heat. Add the bell peppers and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and cook until soft, about 10 minutes.

Heat the broiler. Butter a large shallow baking dish.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the fusilli until just done, about 13 minutes. Drain and return to the hot pot. Toss the pasta with the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and 3/4 teaspoon salt, the sautéed bell peppers, the fontina, mozzarella, 3 tablespoons of the Parmesan, and the black pepper.

Transfer the pasta to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the remaining 3 tablespoons Parmesan over the top.  Broil until the top starts to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with additional Parmesan.