This Creamy Bacon & Mustard Penne with Pear & Blue Cheese Salad recipe is a dish that combines savoury, tangy, and sweet notes, making it an exciting, gourmet twist to your regular weeknight dinners.
The indulgent creaminess of the sauce, punctuated by the bold, robust flavour of bacon and the tangy hint of mustard, envelops the perfectly al dente penne, making each bite a culinary journey. This blend of hearty, savoury, and tangy is an absolute delight to the senses.
But the meal doesn’t stop there. Adding a refreshing contrast to the rich pasta is the Pear & Blue Cheese Salad. The crisp, sweet pears pair exquisitely with the bold, tangy blue cheese, creating a unique salad that is as daring as it is delicious. The salad not only brightens the dish but also offers an interesting textural contrast.
Together, the Creamy Bacon & Mustard Penne and Pear & Blue Cheese Salad create a well-rounded dish that’s both hearty and refreshing. It’s a testament to the beauty of contrasting flavours and how they can create a meal that’s satisfying on multiple levels. This recipe truly bursts with flavours and is the perfect quick yet luxurious dinner option for those busy weeknights.
Before you start, make sure to wash the veggies before you use them! You will also need some cooking tools, like a Saucepan, Garlic Press, Colander, Frying Pan, Wooden Spoon and a Measuring Jug.
Creamy Bacon & Mustard Penne with Pear & Blue Cheese Salad
Print RecipeIngredients
- 1 Garlic Clove
- 1 Baby Gem Lettuce
- 200g Penne
- 1 Chicken Stock Powder
- 40g Grated Hard Italian Style Cheese
- 1 Tbsp Honey
- 1 Shallot
- 1 Pear
- 60g Bacon Lardons
- 30g Wholegrain Mustard
- 100g Crème Fraîche
- 1 Tbsp Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 200ml Water for the Sauce
Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Ingredients
Start by brining a saucepan of water up to the boil and add ½ tsp of salt for the pasta. Then, peel and grate the garlic (or simply use a garlic press!).
Cut off the top and bottom from the pear trim it lengthways, then pop it into a medium-sized bowl.
Step 2: Cook the Pasta
Once the water is boiling you can add the penne and boil it until it’s tender (should take 12 minutes).
Once the pasta is cooked, drain the water and drizzle some olive oil, then stir through to stop it from sticking together.
Step 3: Make the Sauce
While the pasta is cooking, put on a large frying pan with a sprinkle of oil on medium-high heat. Once it’s hot, add the bacon lardons and cook them until brown (3-4 minutes). Then, add the shallot and cook until it’s soft (2-3 minutes).
Once the shallot is soft, add the garlic and stir for 1 minute. Then, add 200ml of water, the chicken stock powder and half of the mustard. Stir it well and bring to the boil.
Step 4: Finish the Sauce
Once the sauce is boiling, add half the hard Italian style cheese and crème fraîche and stir thoroughly. Bring the sauce to the boil again for 1-2 minutes, then add the cooked pasta.
Cook it for a further 1-2 minutes and stir through. You can season it with salt and pepper to your taste.
Step 5: Make the Salad
Start preparing the salad in a bowl by adding the baby leaves and and the pear. Then, add the honey, cider vinegar and the rest of the mustard. Mix in the oil and season it with salt and pepper to your taste.
Add in the blue cheese and toss the salad, then just set it aside for a bit.
Step 6: Serve the Dish
Serve up the pasta and top it off with the remaining hard Italian style cheese.
Add the salad in a separate bowl or on the side.
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