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Nutrition: Per serving

  • kcal932
  • fat48g
  • saturates25g
  • carbs84g
  • sugars11g
  • fibre7g
    high
  • protein38g
  • salt2.2g
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Method

  • step 1

    Bring a saucepan of salted water to the boil. Add the orecchiette and cook for 4 mins less than stated on the pack instructions. Add the peas for the final minute of cooking. Drain and set aside.

  • step 2

    Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the pancetta and fry until golden, around 6 mins. Add the sliced asparagus and garlic, and cook for 2-3 mins, then tip everything into a bowl and set aside.

  • step 3

    Melt the butter in the frying pan. Whisk in the flour and start to add the milk a little at a time, whisking well until you have a creamy sauce. Simmer for 3-4 mins until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir through the cheddar and 60g of the parmesan. Once melted and smooth, season the sauce to taste. Mix in the cooked pasta and the asparagus mixture. Spoon into an ovenproof dish (ours was 25 x 30cm). Scatter over the breadcrumbs along with the remaining parmesan.

  • step 4

    If cooking immediately, heat the grill to high. Grill for 5-6 mins until golden and bubbling. Otherwise, leave to fully cool and cover well before freezing.

Recipe tip

To reheat
Defrost if frozen, then heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 4. Bake for 25 mins until golden. Finish under a hot grill to crisp up the topping.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, June 2025

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Overall rating

A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.3 ratings
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