Bacon, pea & basil macaroni

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1. Fry the bacon and leeks in the oil for 10 mins until the bacon is golden and the leeks soft. Tip in the peas and heat through. Meanwhile, boil the pasta and heat the grill to high.
2. Reserve 150ml of the cooking water before you drain the pasta, then add it, the soft cheese, half the grated cheese and the mustard to the pan with the veg. Stir until the cheese melts into a creamy sauce. Stir in most of the basil and the pasta, then scatter with the rest of the cheese. Grill for 2-3 mins until the cheese melts. Scatter with basil to serve.

Making it with pastry: Creamy cheese & bacon tart

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Unroll a 375g pack ready-rolled puff pastry onto a baking sheet, then score a 2cm border around the edge. Cook the bacon, leeks and peas as before. Mix the soft cheese with the mustard, then spread over the middle of the pastry. Scatter with the veg and bacon, then bake for 20 mins, adding the cheddar with 5 mins to go, until the cheese is melting and the pastry is golden.

703 kcalories, protein 28g, carbohydrate 81g, fat 32 g, saturated fat 16g, fibre 6g, salt 1.87 g

Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

• Jane S

  10 June 2009

  Jane S commented on this recipe

  Suggest changing soft cheese and mature cheddar with low fat options, cutting calories and saturated fats by about a third.

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• Kerri

  10 June 2009

  Kerri rated and commented on this recipe

  

  Just made this for my dinner and it went down well. I replaced the bacon with breakfast slices and didn't add the leeks. I just used what I had in the cupboards. This is a great easy dinner to make on a tight budget. Would highly recommend!

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• schizopear

  11 June 2009

  schizopear rated and commented on this recipe

  

  i made a vegetarian version of this (forgot to buy any bacon!) and used low fat soft cheese. it tasted fine. not a bad supper but would probably have been better with the bacon!

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• rozmorgan

  14 June 2009

  rozmorgan rated and commented on this recipe

  

  Just had this. It was very nice, light and the bacon made a nice salty compliment. We used spring onion and boyfriend forgot the peas. I have no doubt with the added sweetness from the peas it would have been even better. Light and filling, perfect for a sunny quick lunch.

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• cluju

  15 June 2009

  cluju rated and commented on this recipe

  

  used back bacon rather than streaky bacon and missed out the mustard, it was delicious the extra we'd made for lunch the next day didn't survive that long. We'll definitely be making it again

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• Naomi

  15 June 2009

  Naomi rated and commented on this recipe

  

  The kids couldn't get this down their throats fast enough! Definately one of their favourites.

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• JOOLES

  18 June 2009

  JOOLES rated and commented on this recipe

  

  This was really lovely, my fella couldn't get enough of it and was still talking about it two days later, so a definite success id say. As i was only cooking it for two i diddnt cook the full amount of pasta. I cooked 300g but only used about 200g, but kept the same amount of sauce. Lovely. I served this with Cheese & Garlic Ciabatta bread, perfect. I thought this dish would be just an ordinary Macaroni cheese, how wrong was i, it was not like that at all, very flavoursome, not boring at all. I also diddnt use Macaroni i used Pene as that was what i had in the cupboard.x

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• rebecca

  19 June 2009

  rebecca rated and commented on this recipe

  

  Everyone thought this was great. I topped it with sliced tomato and baked it for 20mins rather than grilling, as our grill doesn't work! End product was brilliant. I'd advise using really strong cheese.

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• Muslingpige

  22 June 2009

  Muslingpige rated and commented on this recipe

  

  This wasn't really to my taste. I found to fat (even though I used low fat soft cheese and cheddar). Maybe better for winther than summer - it would be better with at lot more vegetables.

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• Jenny

  23 June 2009

  Jenny rated and commented on this recipe

  

  Quick easy and very tasty, mustard gave the sauce a lovely flavour

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• Frantic Flapjack

  24 June 2009

  Frantic Flapjack rated and commented on this recipe

  

  Good supper dish. Served with carrots.

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• Jo

  05 July 2009

  Jo rated and commented on this recipe

  

  Yummy! I absolutely loved this dish & will find macaroni cheese just too plain from now on! I needed to add more water to make the sauce looser but that was the only change i made.

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• snoogans888

  06 July 2009

  snoogans888 rated and commented on this recipe

  

  I used pancetta and low fat Tesco Value soft cheese which worked very well. I also only used about 300g of pasta and used Dijon mustard instead. This was a delicious dish when freshly made, but just as good reheated in the microwave the next day. Will definitely make it again.

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• Chuffy

  07 July 2009

  Chuffy commented on this recipe

  This recipe is brilliant, quick, easy, tasty and cheap - and, as it says, a great comfort food. I made an extra large portion and took the leftovers to work for lunch the next day - my colleagues were envious! I think it works best with just the leeks and pancetta.

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• Linda

  19 July 2009

  Linda rated and commented on this recipe

  

  This recipe was easy, quick and tasty. The portions were just right although my son and husband could have eated more simply because it was so good.

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• Simpkins

  21 July 2009

  Simpkins rated and commented on this recipe

  

  FANTASTIC RECIPE! With VERY strong cheese this tastes amazing ... although very big portions.

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• Catty

  21 July 2009

  Catty commented on this recipe

  Absolutely fabby . . . even without the leeks (i mean really, who has leeks lying about the house?) quick, easy, filling and satisfying . . . would recommend to anyone who doesn't hate cheese!

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• janey

  28 August 2009

  janey commented on this recipe

  This is now one of the family's favourite meals - my kids love anything with cheese and pasta. I add a breadcrumb and cheese topping and pop it under the grill. Agree with previous comments that you only need about 300g of pasta. Great mid week supper.

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• janey

  28 August 2009

  janey rated this recipe

  

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• Tony

  03 September 2009

  Tony rated and commented on this recipe

  

  Enjoyed this immensely (reheats well too) I tried using Tesco lo-fat Roule as a soft cheese (2 x 150gms) and it worked perfectly. Great comfort food and so easy. I did as someone suggested bake it, and as it was topped with tomatoes finished it off under a high grill. Luverly Jubly!

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Ingredients

• 6 rashers streaky bacon , chopped
• 2 leeks , finely sliced into rings
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 140g frozen peas
• 400g macaroni
• 200g pack soft cheese
• 85g mature cheddar , grated
• 1 tbsp English mustard
• small bunch basil , shredded

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Difficulty and servings

Serves 4

Preparation and cooking times

Prep 10 mins

Cook 20 mins

Ingredients

• 6 rashers streaky bacon , chopped
• 2 leeks , finely sliced into rings
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 140g frozen peas
• 400g macaroni
• 200g pack soft cheese
• 85g mature cheddar , grated
• 1 tbsp English mustard
• small bunch basil , shredded

703 kcalories, protein 28g, carbohydrate 81g, fat 32 g, saturated fat 16g, fibre 6g, salt 1.87 g

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