Red Pepper and Spaghettini Flan

Serves: 4  Cooking time (approx.): 54 minutes Style: Italian Vegetarian 200  grams uncooked spaghettini 4  tablespoons butter 1  teaspoon(s) finely chopped or grated garlic 2  onion(s) finely chopped 1  large red bell pepper(s) cored deseeded and thinly sliced 1  cup(s) button mushrooms ½  cup(s) milk 2  tablespoon(s) double cream 3  eggs(s) lightly whisked ½  teaspoon(s) dried oregano 1  cup(s) grated parmesan cheese salt, freshly ground nutmeg and pepper to taste Cook the spaghettini in a pot of boiling salted water for about 8 minutes or till tender but just underdone. Drain and refresh in cold water. Drain well and toss with half the butter to coat well. Press the pasta well onto the base and along the sides of a well greased 8" loose bottomed flan tin. Melt the remaining butter in a pan. Saute the garlic and onions on medium-low heat for about 3  minutes or till the onions are transluscent. Add the red bell pepper rings and mushrooms. Saute on medium-high heat for about 3  minutes or until they are just tender crisp. Transfer this into the flan tin pressing it evenly into the base. Whisk together the milk, eggs and cream. Stir in the dried oregano. Season with salt, freshly powdered nutmeg and pepper. Pour this onto the vegetables in the flan tin and sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese on top. Bake in a preheated oven at 180oC / 350oF for about 40  minutes or till filling has set. Let stand for 10 minutes. Slide the flan out of the tin onto a serving dish. TIPS: Any thin pasta like vermicelli or capellini can be used in place of spaghettini It is important to cook the pasta till it is almost cooked or till just underdone. Refresh any form of cooked pasta in cold water so that they do not become sticky. Drain the cold water and coat the pasta with a drop or two of oil. Alternatively, toss in some melted butter tillheated through. This will help separate them out. Fresh herbs can be substituted with comparitively lesser amounts of dry ones or vice versa. The amount of cheese can be increased if desired specially if children love it. Serve hot with: salad

 
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