Cheese and Spinach Penne Bake
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Cheese and Spinach Penne Bake

Cheese and Spinach Penne Bake

with Bacon Crumb

This Cheese and Spinach Penne Bake is a crowd pleaser and is one to get the family round the dinner table for. Super simple to make, and easily customised to suit the kids too.

Tags:
Family Friendly
Allergens:
Milk
•Cereals containing gluten

The quantities provided above are averages only.

Boxes and ingredients are packed in facilities that handles Peanut, Nuts, Sesame, Fish, Crustaceans, Milk, Egg, Mustard, Celery, Soya, Gluten and Sulphites. Due to the war in Ukraine, it has been necessary to substitute sunflower oil with rapeseed oil in some products without a label change. The FSA have advised that allergic reactions to rapeseed oil are rare.

Preparation Time40 minutes
Cooking time25 minutes
DifficultyMedium

Ingredients

serving amount

60 grams

Mature Cheddar Cheese

(Contains Milk)

180 grams

Penne Pasta

(Contains Cereals containing gluten)

40 grams

Baby Spinach

60 grams

British Smoked Bacon Lardons

25 grams

Breadcrumbs

(Contains Cereals containing gluten)

10 grams

Chicken Stock Paste

150 grams

Creme Fraiche

(Contains Milk)

1 sachet(s)

Mixed Herbs

Not included in your delivery

1 tbsp

Olive Oil for the Crumb

100 milliliter(s)

Water for the Sauce

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Nutritional information

Energy (kJ)3588 kJ
Energy (kcal)858 kcal
Fat46.5 g
of which saturates24.4 g
Carbohydrate80.6 g
of which sugars5.9 g
Protein29 g
Salt2.69 g
Always refer to the product label for the most accurate ingredient and allergen information.

Utensils

•Grater
•Large Saucepan
•Pan
•Colander
•Bowl
•Oven dish

Instructions

Get Prepped
1

Preheat your oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas mark 7.

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil with 1/2 tsp salt for the pasta.

Grate the Cheddar cheese.

Cook the Pasta
2

When boiling, add the penne to the water and bring back to the boil. Cook until tender, 12 mins.

Pop the spinach into a colander in your sink.

Once the pasta is cooked, drain it over the spinach until wilted and piping hot. Drizzle over a little oil to prevent the penne from sticking. Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of oil in a frying pan on high heat.

Bacon Crumb Time
3

Once the oil is hot, add the bacon lardons and stir-fry until lightly browned, 3-4 mins. IMPORTANT: Wash your hands and equipment after handling raw meat.

In a bowl, mix the bacon and its fat with the breadcrumbs and olive oil for the crumb (see pantry for amount). Season, then set aside.

Make the Sauce
4

Pop your (now empty) frying pan back on medium-high heat (no need to clean).

Add the chicken stock paste, creme fraiche, mixed herbs and water for the sauce (see pantry for amount) to the pan. Stir to combine. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer until slightly thickened, 3-4 mins.

Stir through half the cheese until melted. Taste and season if needed. Remove from the heat.

 

Assemble and Bake
5

Stir the cooked pasta and wilted spinach into your pan of creamy sauce until combined. Add a splash of water to loosen the sauce if it's a little thick.

Pour the creamy pasta into an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese, then top evenly with the bacon crumb. Bake on the top shelf of your oven until golden, 8-10 mins. IMPORTANT: Cook bacon thoroughly.

Finish and Serve
6

When everything's ready, serve the penne bake between your bowls.

Enjoy!