I’m always in search of the meals that bring a smile to our faces and this leek and smoked bacon pasta is definitely one of those dishes.
If you are looking for a fast dinner idea, this is the one you can make in 15 to 20 minutes.
With only three ingredients, leek, bacon, and cream, you will make a deliciously gratifying sauce. All you need is to choose the pasta of your preference.
I would suggest a short cut pasta. That means all pasta shapes that are short (like bow ties, penne, fusilli, but not spaghetti). The reason behind it is that a short pasta type will be able to wrap all the sauce better.
Leek is one of the loved vegetables in Italy and it’s used in many dishes.
Are you looking for easy dinner ideas? Try these ones:
How to make creamy leek and smoked bacon pasta?
This dish is super simple to make. You can make it for a quick lunch or dinner or when you need to whip up something fast.
Start by cleaning and washing the leek then slicing it in half and chopping it into cute half-moons. Slice the bacon or use the precut bacon.
Take a frying pan and toss the bacon inside, let it simmer a bit to release the grease and then add leek.
After a several minutes you will notice how the leek will become softer. Add some salt and pepper to your taste.
Remember to do all of this over a low heat in order not to burn it.
Once the leek has become soft add cooking cream and stir. Taste and if needed add salt and pepper.
Toss the cooked pasta in the sauce and stir. Let it all permeate together. Add a generous handful of grated parmesan and mix. Serve in the plates and give another touch of parmesan over it.
After all, we can call it also easy leek and smoked bacon pasta as you can make it super fast and you don’t have to be an expert cook to prepare it.
How to use leftovers of leek and smoked bacon pasta?
You have two possibilities:
- Add some butter to your frying pan and once its melted add the pasta, cover with the lid and slowly reheat it. Stirring occasionally.
- Grease lightly your baking tray, add the pasta with leeks and bacon and whisk cream and shredded Parmesan cheese in a bowl and pour over it. Add some parmesan on top and bake for 10-15 min or until you see that the cheese has formed a nice crust. I usually set my oven on 200 C.
What are leeks?
Belonging to the Liliacee family, the same as garlic and onion, the leek is a herbaceous plant whose basal portions of the leaves are commonly consumed, called sheaths, which overlap to form a false cylindrical stem. There are two varieties, one with summer ripening, smaller and more tender, the other with winter ripening, less tender and with a more intense flavor.
How to clean leeks?
The leeks bought on the farmers market could easily have the hidden dirt between the leaves. So the easiest way to clean leeks is to slice it in half lengthwise and then wash them each under running water.
The other way is to slice them in half moons and then add them to a bowl with cold water and wash them running your hands in it.
Change the water 2-3 times.
How to cut leeks?
Learn how to cut leeks in 4 easy steps:
- You can cut off the dark green part if you are planning to prepare a delicate dish (I like to use the whole leek with its rich flavor).
- Then remove the lower end, the part with the root.
- Make a light longitudinal cut on the light part and remove the first two outer leaves. Usually, they are the hardest.
- Cut the remaining part of the leek into rounds, crescents, stripes, or chop it finely.
Leek vs Spring onion
Leek and spring onion have evident morphological and organoleptic differences, even if from a distance they may seem similar.
The main element of diversity lies in the fact that the edible part (or rather “most usually eaten”, being entirely edible) is the bulb in the spring onion, while the lower part of the leaves in the leek.
The colors and sizes are similar and the apical part of the leaves is both green, linear and pointed.
Spring onions can be eaten fresh while leek can’t. It requires some form of the thermic processing.
Leek benefits
Leek has diuretic and laxative properties which help detoxify our bodies. It is an excellent natural antioxidant, thanks to the presence of flavonoids, minerals and vitamins.
Did you know that leeks have an antiseptic action on the digestive system, which makes them useful even in the case of intestinal inflammation, due to food poisoning but also to viral causes?
It is recommended for those suffering from constipation as the containing water and fiber make it a light laxative.
How to store leeks?
Leeks are quite durable vegetables and can be easily stored in the fridge even for 2 weeks.
If you have an abundant amount of leeks and you don’ want to waste them you can freeze them. To do that clean and slice them as previously described. Tap them with paper towels to dry any access water and put them into the plastic bags and place in freezer.
Did you like this recipe? Let me know. I would love to hear from you. 🙂
Serves 4 persons
Italian Kitchen Stories
This delicate creamy leeks and smoked bacon pasta dish is a fast dinner dish. Fast to make and full of flavors. Your family will love it.
5 minPrep Time
15 minCook Time
20 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 2 large leeks
- 100 grams of smoked bacon
- 1 cooking cream (250 ml)
- 3 table spoons of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
- salt & pepper
- hand full of grated parmesan cheese (optional)
- 400 grams of pasta
Instructions
- Wash the outer part of the leeks and cut them lengthwise and then again on a 2 cm wide half moons. 🙂
- Once all is cut, place them in a bowl with cold water and wash them again. Leave them in the water for about 5 min to make sure all dirt will be removed.
- I like to use the whole leeks, but if you prefer more delicate flavor use only the white part.
- Take a large frying pan and add pre cut bacon and 3 table spoons of EVOO.
- Let the bacon softens and release the grease and then add the leeks.
- Stir and sauté it over medium heat.
- While the leeks are getting softer, take a large pan and add hot water. Bring it to boil and add hand full of coarse salt and add the pasta.
- You can add 1-2 ladle of boiling pasta water in the sauce. It will help soften the leeks faster.
- Once the leaks have become soft add cooking cream, salt and pepper and stir all.
- Taste to make sure that you like the amount of salt and pepper and then add drained pasta in it.
- Mix all the ingredients and distribute on the plates.
- Sprinkle the fresh grated Parmesan chees and serve immediately.
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