We love good Creamy Bacon & Mustard Pasta with a Pear and Blue Cheese Salad and this deliciously simple, chef-curated recipe doesn't disappoint. Time to bust out the pots and pans!
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.
1
Pear
200
Penne Pasta
15
Cider Vinegar
(Contains Sulphites)
1
Wholegrain Mustard
1
Chicken Stock Powder
1
Echalion Shallot
1
Cosberg Lettuce
60
British Smoked Bacon Lardons
1
Chives
15
Honey
1
Garlic Clove
99
Creme Fraiche
(Contains Milk)
40
Grated Hard Italian Style Cheese
(Contains Milk, Egg)
30
Crumbled Blue Cheese
(Contains Milk)
1
Olive Oil
200
Water for the Sauce
Bring a saucepan of water up to the boil with 0.5 tsp salt for the pasta.Peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press).Finely chop the chives or snip finely with scissors. Halve, peel and thinly slice the shallot. Trim the root from the cosberg lettuce then halve lengthways. Chop into thirds widthways and put in a large bowl. Trim the top and bottom from the pear and quarter lengthways. Remove the core and thinly slice each quarter widthways and then add into the bowl with the lettuce.
When the pasta water has come to the boil, add the penne and boil until tender, 12 mins. When cooked drain in a colander and leave to drain in your sink. TIP: Drizzle the pasta with some oil to prevent it from sticking together.
Meanwhile, heat a splash of oil in a large frying pan over a medium high heat. When hot, add the bacon lardons and cook until browned all over, 3-4 mins. Add the shallot and cook until they begin to soften 2-3 mins. Once softened, add the garlic and cook stirring for 1 minute. Add the water (see ingredients for amount), chicken stock powder and half of the mustard. Stir to dissolve and bring to the boil.
Combine the honey, cider vinegar and remaining mustard in a small bowl. Add the oil (see ingredients for amount) and season with salt and pepper. Mix well and pour into the lettuce bowl along with the blue cheese. Toss together with your hands and set aside.
Add half the hard Italian cheese and the creme fraiche to the sauce and stir to melt the cheese, bring to the boil for 1-2 mins. Once melted and you have a smooth sauce stir through the chives and cooked pasta. Cook until piping hot, 1-2 mins. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Share the pasta between your bowls and top with the remaining hard Italian cheese. Serve the salad in a bowl on the side. Enjoy!