This asparagus & pancetta baked pasta is a perfect family dinner which also makes great leftovers eaten cold the next day.
I really wish I could be eating exclusively light summery food but alas the weather at the moment is complete rubbish.
Seriously, we've had about four days of proper warmth and sunshine so far this year (it's even raining outside as I write this) and I need carbs and comfort food to keep me warm.
Even so, ingredients like asparagus only turn up good this time of year so they must be used even if it is mixed in to hot, cheesy, gooey baked pasta.
Ingredients you need to make this asparagus & pancetta baked pasta:
- Asparagus Tips
- Broccoli
- Olive Oil
- Leeks
- Unsalted Butter
- Milk
- Ground Nutmeg
- Plain Flour
- Short Pasta
- Cheddar
- Pancetta
- Panko Breadcrumbs
Keep scrolling to get the full recipe for this asparagus & pancetta baked pasta...
This asparagus & pancetta baked pasta recipe was inspired by a recipe from one of my new cookbooks (I've had many, many new cookbooks recently, a round up is imminent); As The Romans Do by Eleonora Galasso.
The one from the book is pretty similar to this but Eleonora's takes a little more time (which I'm sure benefits the flavour and eating experience).
However, I decided to embark on making this on a weeknight after my first day at a new job so my desire to spend multiple hours in the kitchen was pretty much zero. So I figured I'd make a few adjustments to enable this to be made in less time while still keeping in all of that amazing flavour.
I also added in some broccoli to supplement the asparagus because we didn't have as much as the recipe asked for. Also because broccoli is one of my favourite vegetables.
In the end this took me about an hour to put together and does involve a little bit of multitasking to get the sauce, pasta and the leeks ready to go at the same time.
Totally worth it though because once you've got it in the oven you can sit back for 20 minutes and chill before indulging in some delicious pasta goodness.
More The Cook Report pasta recipes.
Keep scrolling to get the recipe...
WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEFTOVER INGREDIENTS ONCE YOU'VE MADE THIS ASPARAGUS & PANCETTA BAKED PASTA?
If you’re anything like me then you’re always looking for ways to save money and avoid food waste so I want to make sure you’ve get plenty of ideas on how to use up any ingredients that are leftover from my recipes!
Garlic Pasta with Broccoli, Chickpeas & Chorizo
Cashew Nut Curry with Halloumi & Broccoli
Recipe
Asparagus & Pancetta Baked Pasta
Ingredients
- 100 g Asparagus Tips chopped into 1cm chunks
- ½ head Broccoli
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 Leeks trimmed and sliced
- 100 g Unsalted Butter
- 500 ml Milk
- 1 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- 100 g Plain Flour
- 400 g Short Pasta
- 150 g Cheddar
- 150 g Pancetta cubes
- 3 tablespoon Panko Breadcumbs
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Heat the olive oil over a medium heat and cook the leeks until softened. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Heat the milk in a small saucepan. In another saucepan melt the butter before adding the nutmeg and flour, stirring together to make a roux. Add a little salt before slowly beginning to pour in the warm milk, stirring constantly. Once the sauce is smooth and thick, bring to the boil briefly before removing from the heat.
- Cook the pasta for about half the time it instructs on the packet. Place the drained, cooked pasta, leeks, sauce and half the broccoli and asparagus into a large bowl. Mix everything together before tipping into a large, greased baking dish. Scatter the rest of the broccoli and asparagus over the top of the pasta followed by the pancetta and the cheese.
- Cook for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove, sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and return to the oven for another 5 minutes until browned. Serve.
savor the best---Pat says
Oh, yum! I love the flavor profile in this dish...pancetta and asparagus are both favorites! 🙂
Vicki Craig says
I'll make this for dinner next week. If its anywhere near as good as the halloumi and cashew curry i made last night it'll be a huge hit. So glad I came across your recipes on Pinterest
Amy says
Thanks so much, so glad you liked the curry!
Veena Azmanov says
This pasta looks so comforting. I love the combination and flavors. Sorry about the weather you facing. We had baking hot summer this year.
Kristen Chidsey says
What a hearty meal!! I absolutely love asparagus and pancetta together and you can't go wrong with pasta
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
I loooove baked pasta! We had baked macaroni and cheese last night! Love the asparagus, too!
Jagruti says
Pasta makes everything better, I love those veggies you have used in this dish..so yum!
Nicola @ Happy Healthy Motivated says
Sorry to hear about the rubbish weather you've had this summer. This pasta looks so snuggly and comforting that I think it could make anyone feel better!!