Bacon and cheese pasta
Golden breadcrumbs and bacon top this deliciously cheesy pasta bake. Serve with a crisp seasonal salad alongside
Ingredients
Bacon and cheese pasta
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 4 pieces bacon, diced, cooked, reserving 1 Tbsp bacon fat
- 400 ml cream
- 1 tsp thyme
- 3 cups grated cheese
- 500 g penne pasta, cooked as per packet instructions
- 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
Seasonal salad
- 60 g salad greens
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1 tomato. sliced
Pantry items
- 1 tsp olive oil for frying
- 2 tbsp flour
- 550 ml milk
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
Steps
Bacon and cheese pasta
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- In a large pan, reheat reserved bacon fat over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Add flour and stir for 1 minute. Whisk in cream, milk and thyme. Reduce by a third. Stir in cheese until melted, and the mixture is creamy and thickened.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and gently stir in pasta. Place in a large casserole dish.
- In a small bowl, mix together diced bacon, breadcrumbs, butter and parsley.
- Top pasta with breadcrumb mixture and bake uncovered at same heat until bubbling and lightly browned on top, 20 to 25 minutes. Garnish with parsley. Serve with salad.
Cost of meal is based on actual quantity or portion of each ingredient used to make the recipe on 21 March 2016. For details and a full breakdown of meal costs, see countdown.co.nz.
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