Squash and Leek Rigatoni au Gratin by Ricardo

Preparation time 50 minutes

Total time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Ingredients

4 cups (600 g) peeled, seeded and cubed butternut squash
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
3/4 lb (375 g) rigatoni
3 cups (285 g) thinly sliced leeks (about 1 or 2)
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 cup (55 g) butter
1/4 cup (40 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups (500 ml) chicken broth
1 cup (250 ml) milk
8 cups (240 g) lightly packed fresh spinach, stemmed and coarsely chopped (2 bags of 6 oz / 170 g)
Red pepper flakes (optional)
Grated nutmeg (optional)
1 cup (100 g) grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup (35 g) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place the squash on the baking sheet. Drizzle with the oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake for about 20 minutes or until tender, stirring halfway through cooking. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta al dente. Drain. Lightly oil and set aside.
In the same pot over medium-high heat, soften the leeks, onion and garlic in the butter. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the broth and milk. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Off the heat, with an immersion blender, purée the leek mixture until smooth. With a spatula, stir in the squash, pasta and spinach. Adjust the seasoning. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes and nutmeg, if desired.
Pour the mixture into a 13 x 9-inch (33 x 23 cm) baking dish. Sprinkle with the cheeses. Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let rest for 15 minutes before serving.