Baked Pasta and Leeks With Anchovy Cream

Name: Baked Pasta and Leeks With Anchovy Cream
Yield: 4 - 6 Servings
Ingredients: 1 lb. short pasta (such as rigatoni, penne, or conchiglie); Kosher salt; ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil; 3 large leeks (about 1½ lb.), white and pale green parts only, trimmed, sliced ½" thick; 15 oil-packed anchovies, drained (from a 1.5-oz. tin); 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 1 tsp. mild red pepper flakes or ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes; Freshly ground black pepper; 2 cups heavy cream; 3 oz. Parmesan, finely grated, plus more for serving; 1 10-oz. bag frozen baby peas, thawed in warm water, drained

By Chris Morocco

March 16, 2021

Baked Pasta and Leeks With Anchovy Cream recipe

Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie Strangio

Yes, you are going to use a whole tin of anchovies here (Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco suggests Cento or Roland). No, it won’t be too much. Anchovies, cream, leeks, and Parmesan do magical things when baked with pasta. Anchovies bring more than just salt to the table; they add loads of umami to this rich and creamy dish.

Recipe information

Yield
4 - 6 Servings

Ingredients

1 lb. short pasta (such as rigatoni, penne, or conchiglie)

Kosher salt

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 large leeks (about 1½ lb.), white and pale green parts only, trimmed, sliced ½" thick

15 oil-packed anchovies, drained (from a 1.5-oz. tin)

6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 tsp. mild red pepper flakes or ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Freshly ground black pepper

2 cups heavy cream

3 oz. Parmesan, finely grated, plus more for serving

1 10-oz. bag frozen baby peas, thawed in warm water, drained

Preparation

Step 1
Preheat oven to 400°. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
Step 2
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large Dutch oven or large high-sided skillet over medium. Add leeks; season with a couple pinches of salt. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and golden around the edges, 6–8 minutes. Uncover and add anchovies, garlic, red pepper flakes, and several grinds of black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until anchovies are disintegrated and garlic is tender, about 5 minutes.
Step 3
Add cream and 3 oz. Parmesan. Bring to a simmer; season with salt and black pepper (it should taste a bit salty because the pasta will absorb some seasoning as it bakes). Add peas and reserved pasta and toss gently to coat; top with more Parmesan. Transfer pasta to oven; bake until top is crisp and cream is bubbling around the edges, 25–30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

TagsPasta Anchovy Fish Seafood Leek Root Vegetable Vegetable Rigatoni Penne Easy Main Nut Free Dinner Bon Appétit

Recipe notes

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

29 Baked Pasta Recipes Full of Crispy-Edged, Cheesy-Centered Joy
Good things happen when you smother pasta in a cream sauce and bake it until it’s gooey.

Recipe information

Ingredients

Preparation

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Recipe notes

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

29 Baked Pasta Recipes Full of Crispy-Edged, Cheesy-Centered Joy