Cheesy Spinach Pasta
Cheesy Spinach Pasta is a delightful pasta bake based on the classic recipe for a Macaroni Cheese, however, with an easy JULES tweak of adding fresh baby leaf spinach. A fabulous one pot supper bake for all the family to love and enjoy.
If you prefer the classic Macaroni Cheese click this link below
6
25 minutes
45 minutes
180ºC
Ingredients
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150g pasta shapes- cooked
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Cheese Sauce
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30g butter
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1 large tbsp plain flour
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1 tsp dry mustard powder
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500ml milk
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200g tasty cheddar cheese- grated
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Other
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Large handful of baby spinach leaves
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Seasonings
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Freshly milled black pepper
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Large pinch of sea salt
Instructions
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Pasta:
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01 Cook the pasta in a large saucepan with plenty of hot water until soft. Drain and reserve.
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Make cheese sauce:
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02 Melt butter in a saucepan. Add flour. Stir well, now add mustard. Using a whisk now add the milk and bring to the boil stirring all the time until the sauce nice and thick and well cooked. Remove from the heat. Add half of the cheese, reserving the remainder for the top. Stir well and now add all the baby spinach leaves. Wilt in the heat of the cheese sauce.
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Assemble:
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03 When the cheese sauce is completed, add all the cooked pasta and check the seasoning. Pour the mixture into a well buttered oven proof dish and generously cover the top with grated cheese.
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Bake:
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04 Place in a hot oven and bake until heated through, and the cheese melted and golden brown.
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Serve:
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05 Take to the table hot and enjoy with oodles of tomato ketchup.
Notes
If you like your pasta and cheese to be thick and dense, then follow this recipe exactly but if you are like me and prefer my pasta bake to sit in a 'sloppy' sauce, then be generous with the milk in the cheese sauce. I also love to be generous with the cheese topping. Finally if you wish to adapt the recipe with the addition of a bacon, other smoked meat or vegetable such as sweetcorn please go ahead.
