Cauliflower & bacon pasta
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- Easy
- Serves 4
Skip to ingredients
- 200g streaky bacon
- 300g dried pasta
- 1 cauliflowercut into large florets
- 25g butter
- 25g plain flour
- 300ml milk
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 140g cheddargrated
- 1 soft wholemeal rollwhizzed to breadcrumbs
- saladto serve, (optional)
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal673
- fat34g
- saturates16g
- carbs56g
- sugars9g
- fibre3g
- protein35g
- salt2.8g
Method
step 1
Heat the grill to high and bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Grill the bacon slices for 5 mins or until crispy, then drain on kitchen paper and cut into small pieces.
step 2
Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Add the cauliflower to the pasta pan for the final 8 mins, so that it is just tender, then drain, reserving 2 tbsp of the cooking water.
step 3
Melt the butter in a small pan over a low heat, then stir in the flour and cook for a couple of mins. Gradually stir in the milk, mixing well between each addition. Bring to a simmer, then cook for a few mins until thickened. Season, add the mustard and half the grated cheese. Stir until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.
step 4
Tip the pasta and cauliflower back into the pan along with the reserved cooking water. Stir through the cheese sauce and bacon, then transfer the mix to a baking dish. Mix together the breadcrumbs and remaining cheese, then sprinkle over the pasta. Cook for 5 mins under the grill until browned. Serve with a salad, if you like.
