Best Mushroom Bacon And Leek Pasta Recipes

PASTA WITH BACON AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water; drain the pasta.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels; pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings from the skillet.
• Add the leeks to the drippings in the skillet. Season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the heavy cream and cook until it begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.
• Add the pasta to the skillet along with the parmesan, half of the bacon and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat, adding enough of the reserved pasta cooking water to loosen. To serve, top with the remaining bacon, more parmesan and parsley.

LEEK, BACON AND MUSHROOM CARBONARA (NO CREAM)

Steps:

• Cut the bacon into 1cm squares, and cut the mushrooms into 1.5 to 2 cm chunks. Trim, wash and finely slice the leeks, Peel and mince the garlic (or use 4 tsps. of pre-minced garlic from a jar). Pick the thyme leaves from the stalks, if using fresh. Trim, wash and finely slice the leeks.
• In a large casserole dish or saucepan, fry the bacon over medium/low heat with a 1/2 tablespoon of oil for a few minutes. Then turn the heat up to medium/high and add the rest of the oil (1 tblsp). Once the oil has heated, add the mushrooms and sauté for 5 minutes or so. Remove the bacon and mushrooms and set aside.
• Add the butter to the pan and when melted, add the leeks, garlic and thyme. Stir around, (wiping up any bits of bacon and mushroom stuck to the pan) and sauté for a few minutes. Add 400ml of hot water, cover, bring to boil and then turn the heat to low. Simmer gently for 30 mins, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. (Add more water if it gets dry and sticks.).
• After 30 minutes of simmering the leeks, stir in the bacon and mushrooms, cover again and continue to simmer on low for another 10 mins while you cook the pasta, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. (Remove the lid to reduce the mixture if it looks too wet, and add more water if it gets dry and sticks.).
• While the leek, bacon and mushrooms continue to simmer, cook the pasta in a large pan according to the packet instructions, then drain, reserving a half a cup or so of the starchy cooking water.
• Season the leeks, bacon and mushrooms with sea salt and cracked black pepper and toss the drained pasta into the pan with the leeks etc. Stir thoroughly and set aside for 2 minutes, off the heat, to cool slightly, while you grate the cheese and lightly beat the eggs in a large mug (if the pan's too hot, it'll scramble the eggs; get it right and it'll be smooth, silky and deliciously elegant).
• Stir the cheese into the beaten egg mixture and add a splash of reserved cooking water to loosen the mixture. Pour the mixture over the pasta, tossing vigorously (the egg will cook in the residual heat). Adjust the consistency with extra cooking water, if needed.
• Serve in bowls with extra parmesan (and cracked black pepper, if you like).