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Cauliflower, pancetta and taleggio pasta bake

Name: Cauliflower, pancetta and taleggio pasta bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 20g unsalted butter; 100g pancetta, chopped; 1 onion, finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 1 tablespoon chopped thyme leaves; 1 tablespoon plain flour; 150ml white wine; 1/2 cup (125ml) milk; 300ml pure (thin) cream; 150g Taleggio cheese (see note), rind removed, chopped; 150g gruyere, grated; 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley; 300g macaroni; 1/4 cauliflower, cut into florets; 2 tablespoons finely grated parmesan; 2 tablespoons dried breadcrumbs

3 ratings

15m

35m

Cauliflower, pancetta and taleggio pasta bake

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This creamy pasta bake is just a little bit fancier than your average macaroni cheese.

2 tablespoons olive oil
20g unsalted butter
100g pancetta, chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped thyme leaves
1 tablespoon plain flour
150ml white wine
1/2 cup (125ml) milk
300ml pure (thin) cream
150g Taleggio cheese (see note), rind removed, chopped
150g gruyere, grated
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
300g macaroni
1/4 cauliflower, cut into florets
2 tablespoons finely grated parmesan
2 tablespoons dried breadcrumbs

Method

1.

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Grease a 1.5L baking dish.
2.

Place the oil and butter in a pan over medium heat. Cook pancetta and onion, stirring, for 3-4 minutes until pancetta begins to crisp. Add garlic, thyme and flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add wine and simmer for 3-4 minutes until reduced by half. Add milk, cream, Taleggio and gruyere, then stir for 1-2 minutes until cheeses have melted. Season, then stir in parsley.
3.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in a saucepan of boiling, salted water according to packet instructions, adding cauliflower for final 6 minutes of cooking time. Drain, then stir pasta and cauliflower through the cheese sauce. Pour into the baking dish and top with parmesan and breadcrumbs. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden, then serve.