Cheesy 3 Veg Pasta

Serves 4

The perfect comforting supper, tasty and healthy too!

 INGREDIENTS                                                       

●      1 leek, trimmed and thinly sliced

●      Small head of broccoli or ½ a large one (approximately 300g)

●      3 tablespoons frozen peas, defrosted

●      400g dried pasta such as macaroni or penne

●      30g butter or margarine

●      30g plain flour

●      1 tablespoon French mustard

●      400ml semi-skimmed milk

●      120g cheddar cheese

EQUIPMENT

Knife, chopping board, measuring spoons, wooden spoon, measuring jug, grater, 1 large and 1 medium saucepan, colander.

ALLERGENS: Milk, Gluten, Mustard

COOKING UP TIP: If you are making this ahead, to avoid the pasta continuing to absorb the sauce, cook the pasta and then add a little bit of the sauce so it doesn’t stick too much and then let it cool down. Once the pasta is cool, add the rest of the sauce.

METHOD  

STEP 1

Prepare the vegetables: chop the broccoli stalk into small cubes. Separate the head of the broccoli into florets and chop into bite-sized pieces. Slice off the root end and tough green top of the leek. Remove the outer layer and slice in half lengthways. Wash the leek, open the layers and wash between them to remove any dirt). Slice finely.

STEP 2

Grate the cheese.

STEP 3

Gently melt the butter in a medium saucepan over a low heat and add the leek and broccoli stalk pieces. Cover and cook for approximately 10 minutes, stirring regularly until the leeks are tender. Add the flour, cook for 1 minute and then gradually add the milk, stirring all the while. Heat gently and keep stirring for approximately 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened into a smooth shiny sauce. Add the grated cheese and mustard and stir well. Season.

STEP 4

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Carefully add the pasta, bring back to the boil and cook for a couple of minutes under the cooking time on the packet instructions* until almost tender, then add the broccoli florets and peas and cook for a further 2/3 minutes.

STEP 5

Drain the pasta, combine with the cheesy veg sauce and serve.

*cooking times vary according to different types of pasta.