This recipe may be reproduced with the following credit:
 SILVIA BIANCO (http://www.chefsilvia.com)

Baked Stuffed Rigatoni with Squash/béchamel
Topped with zucchini in a white wine sauce with a hint of cream and saffron

I made this dish after my daughter told me about having this great meal after the premiere of the movie Lions for Lambs. Giada de Laurentiis made a rigatoni stuffed with squash with a sauce of sautéed shrimp for an illustrious crowd. I thought this dish sounded delicious so here’s my version.

The Filling
1 lb. Rigatoni (or cannoloni or large shells)
1 large or 2 smaller squash---cut in half (vertically)
1 cup béchamel (see recipe below)


The Sauce
1 medium zucchini (shredded)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic---minced
1 pinch of red pepper flakes
½ cup white wine
2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons butter
2-3 tablespoons cream
Pinch of saffron
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

In a 375 degree oven

Place squash in a shallow roasting pan with about an inch of water.
Cook about 60 minutes or until soft. Remove from the oven, cool slightly, remove skin and mash.

In the meantime cook rigatoni until just firm, about 8 minutes, then drain and set aside.
Make the béchamel and set aside. Make the filling by combining about 2 parts mashed squash with 1 part béchamel. Open each rigatoni by slicing one side and the pasta is flat. Fill with the mashed ingredients, close the pasta and place, cut side down in a large baking dish, lined with a bit of chicken broth. Repeat with all the noodles, cover and bake for about 15-20 minutes until hot throughout. Remove from the oven, place on individual plates or a large serving platter and cover with sauce.

In the meantime...

Make the sauce by adding olive oil to a large sauté pan, place over med/high heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 15 seconds, then add the red pepper flakes, followed by the zucchini. Cook until soft about 2 minutes than add the wine, followed by the broth and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes until the liquid has reduced some. Add the remaining ingredients, stir until incorporated, remove from heat and pour over the pasta.