Day- After Casserole

By Kukla • May 9, 2011 • 0 Comments

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Day- After Casserole — 1 of 2 Photo by Kukla

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Author Notes: Whenever you have something good in the refrigerator, any kind of pasta in the pantry, and a little imagination, it becomes a completely new recipe.
A little of this, a little of that; nearly anything can be brought to a new simple and delicious life.
In this recipe I many times mix and match different vegetables, meats, herbs, and pasta.
- Kukla

Serves 8-10

• 2 cups leftover meat (turky,beef, pork, chicken, lamb or sausages) chopped in bite-size pieces
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion diced
• 1 large or two small leeks (white part) sliced
• 2 large garlic cloves minced
• 2-3 medium zucchini unpeeled or 1 large eggplant cut in half and sliced in ¼ -inch pieces
• 2 cups can tomatoes, drained
• 1 cup good quality red wine
• 1 cup fresh peas
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg freshly ground
• 2 teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 a pound pasta of your choice fresh cooked or leftover (al dente), I like Pappardelle
• ½ cup grated Parmesan, Romano or Sharp White Cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh Basel (chopped)

1. Brown the meat in oil; add onion, leeks, and salt; sauté until tender.2. Stir in zucchini, tomatoes, garlic, and wine, cinnamon, nutmeg, and red pepper flakes; sauté for about 10 minutes or until the mixture is reduced in half. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
3. Meanwhile cook pasta; before draining reserve ½ cup of the cooking liquid. If using leftover pasta, worm it in a double boiler. 4. Gently mix everything together; fold in the fresh peas, chopped Basel, and cheese. 5. If you fill that the mixture needs more moisture, add the reserved cooking liquid.
6. Taste for seasoning; grease a four-quart casserole baking dish; pour the mixture, smooth-out the top. 7. In a small bowl combine ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin olive oil and some more grated cheese. 8. Sprinkle over the top and bake for 30 minutes in 400 degrees preheated oven.