Cheesy Pasta, Leek and Bacon Bake

⏱ 60 mins 🍽 4 serving(s) 🌶 italian 🏷 One Dish Meal

This satisfying Italian bake is a great way to use up ingredients. It combines pasta with sautéed leeks, bacon and mushrooms in a rich, mustard-infused cheese sauce. Topped with sliced tomatoes, more cheese and herbs, it is baked until perfectly hot and golden. It serves four people and takes about an hour to prepare and cook.

Cheesy Pasta, Leek and Bacon Bake

Ingredients

  • 13 ounces pasta, any shape, I used large macaroni
  • 6 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 leek, chopped
  • 6 mushrooms, sliced
  • 7 ounces cheese, grated
  • 2 ounces all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 ounces butter
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 3 1/4 cups milk
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
  • 5 -6 tomatoes, sliced
  • 2 teaspoons dried herbs

Method

  1. Boil the pasta in water until it reaches an al dente texture, then drain it.
  2. While the pasta cooks, fry the chopped leek, bacon and sliced mushrooms in a pan until tender and cooked through. Set this mixture aside. Heat your oven to 400°F.
  3. In a separate pan, melt the butter and gently cook the minced garlic clove, being careful not to.
  4. let it burn. Gradually mix in the flour to form a roux, which is a thick paste.
  5. Slowly pour in the milk, stirring continuously (a whisk can be useful here) until you achieve a smooth white sauce. Stir in three-quarters of the grated cheese and the whole grain mustard until the cheese has melted.
  6. Combine the reserved leek mixture and the drained pasta with the cheese sauce. Add salt and pepper according to your preference.
  7. Transfer the mixture to an ovenproof dish. Scatter the remaining cheese and the sliced tomatoes over the top, then finish with a sprinkle of dried herbs.
  8. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 20-30 mintues until the contents are hot and the top is bubbling.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium836400 mg

Recipe details

CategoryOne Dish Meal
Cuisineitalian
AuthorEnglish_Rose