Penne Pie
Just out of the oven
This pie has to be one of the easiest and most delicious combination of ingredients and a sure family favorite! It is a must have pie for a brunch, but we enjoy it really anytime. Side it with a fresh salad and you will be a star! Combining the goodness of salami.. yes you read correctly, salami, sausage, and 3 cheeses you won't know if you are eating a gourmet Mac & Cheese or a lazy man's lasagna! Of course with a recipe from me, you know it is full of whole calorie goodness but made with simple ingredients found in your kitchen.
Ingredients
Simple Ingredients from your kitchen
Yes simple ingredients and if you happen to have a 10 inch spring form pan you will be golden! Yes spring form pans are not just for cheese cake anymore! I first came across this recipe one New Years Day when a TV News program had a guest on who shared a recipe similar to this. I of course, changed it up a bit to make it more to my families liking and never looked back!
Ingredients
1 pound box of Penne Pasta
1 Cup Ricotta Cheese
1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese cut into 1/2" cubes
1 Cup Parmesan Cheese
1/2 Cup Genoa Salami diced
1 Cup Crumbled Cook Sausage
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 Clove Garlic minced
6 Eggs
2 Bunches Fresh Spinach or I like to use an 11 oz Pkg of Organic Baby Spinach then you won't have to cut it as with the larger spinach you may want to chop it up after it is wilted.
Salt and Pepper to taste (I usually forget to add these but still tastes great)
I told you it was full of wholesome non-diet ingredients LOL!
Ingredients
1 pound box of Penne Pasta
1 Cup Ricotta Cheese
1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese cut into 1/2" cubes
1 Cup Parmesan Cheese
1/2 Cup Genoa Salami diced
1 Cup Crumbled Cook Sausage
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 Clove Garlic minced
6 Eggs
2 Bunches Fresh Spinach or I like to use an 11 oz Pkg of Organic Baby Spinach then you won't have to cut it as with the larger spinach you may want to chop it up after it is wilted.
Salt and Pepper to taste (I usually forget to add these but still tastes great)
I told you it was full of wholesome non-diet ingredients LOL!
Step 1 - Gather, Chop, and Cook
Mozzarella and Salami cubed
The first thing I do is start a pot of water to cook the Penne in. Now you will not want to cook the pasta all the way, just shy of being done as the pasta will cook more in the oven. While the water is heating, brown the sausage in a fry pan until brown and crumbled. Cut up Salami and Mozzarella into cubes and put into a large bowl. Once the sausage is done spoon into same bowl as Salami and set aside. Drain Pasta when cooked. Wash and sort spinach - spin dry if you have a salad spinner and mince the clove of garlic. (To save time I often use the minced garlic in the jar that you can find at your grocery store) Yes I know it is cheating but it works :)
Step 2 - Wilting Spinach and mixing
Wilting the spinach
Once the sausage is cooked, add the olive oil to the fry pan and add the garlic. Saute garlic until lightly browned and then add spinach. The pan will be quite full to start but as the spinach wilts it will reduce and all 11 oz container will fit in pan. It usually just takes a minute or two - make sure your heat is not too high as you don't want to burn the spinach, only wilt it. Once this is wilted, remove from heat and let sit and cool for a minute or two.
Step 3 - Mixing it all together
Cheeses, meat and eggs mixed
In the large bowl with salami, mozzarella, and sausage, add the ricotta cheese, Parmesan, eggs, wilted spinach and mix well. Once the ingredients are mix evenly add the pasta and stir to combine. I find folding the pasta in helps keep everything in the bowl but mixes it quite well. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and generously grease or spray the spring form pan. Spoon the penne mixture into the spring form and compact it into the pan as much as possible. Some of the pasta will stick up and out of pan - this is normal and will add a crunch texture to the pie after cooking.
Step 4 - Cook
Ready for baking
Now place in pre heated oven and allow to cook for 1 hour. The pie will be golden brown and bubbly when done. Allow to sit for 10 minutes, then remove outer ring of pan, slice and serve! It is wholesome goodness and a definite comfort food for a cold Autumn night! Left overs are even better the next day too! Enjoy!!