Asda's Creamy Bacon and Leek Pasta

Cooking Bacon (300g-500g): Approximately £1.50
Courgettes (2): Approximately £1.00
Leeks (500g): Approximately £1.50
Cream Cheese (200g-300g): Approximately £1.00
Pasta Shapes (400g): Approximately £0.50
Black Pepper: Negligible cost

A quick, delicious meal that’s easy on the wallet!

Introduction:
This creamy bacon and leek pasta is a delightful combination of savoury bacon, tender leeks, and a rich, cheesy sauce. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner and costs approximately £0.95 per serving.

Ingredients:

300g-500g cooking bacon, sliced into small chunks
2 courgettes, thinly sliced into quarters
500g leeks, washed thoroughly and thinly sliced
200g-300g cream cheese
400g pasta shapes
Black pepper

Method:

Cook the Bacon: Place the bacon in a non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat. Allow the fat to render and cook gently for about 8 minutes until the bacon starts to crisp.
Prepare the Topping: Remove a third of the cooked bacon from the pan and set it aside to use as a topping later.
Add the Leeks: Add the sliced leeks to the pan with the remaining bacon. Season generously with black pepper. Stir to combine and cook gently for 5 minutes.
Cook the Pasta: While the leeks are cooking, add your pasta to boiling water. Set a timer for the package-recommended cooking time minus two minutes to ensure the pasta is al dente.
Add the Courgettes: After the leeks have cooked for 5 minutes, add the courgettes to the pan. Continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Create the Sauce: Stir in the cream cheese until well combined. Loosen the mixture with about 3 ladles of pasta water. Then, add the undercooked pasta directly to the pan (reserve the remaining pasta water when draining). Stir to combine and continue to cook until the sauce thickens. Add additional pasta water as necessary to achieve your desired sauce consistency.
Serve: Divide the pasta among serving plates. Top with the reserved crispy bacon and a sprinkle of black pepper. Enjoy!