Chicken and Bacon Pasta Bake with Salad

Chicken and Bacon Pasta Bake with Salad

Ready in 35 minutes Serves 5
This dish most recently appeared in My Family (5 Nights For 4) on Sunday, October 30, 2016.

This has all the classic flavours of a delicious lasagne, without the long cook time.


Ingredients

CHICKEN AND BACON GREEK PASTITSIO

  • ½ brown onion, finely diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 carrot, grated
  • 450g chicken and bacon mince
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 can cherry tomatoes
  • ½ cup red wine or beef stock
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons pastitsio herb mix
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 courgette, grated
  • 350g penne pasta
  • ½ cup grated Edam cheese

BÉCHAMEL SAUCE

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ cup grated Edam cheese
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

SALAD

  • 1 baby cos lettuce
  • 1 tomato
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons vinegar (e.g. red wine, white wine, cider)

Steps

  1. grill to high. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil.
  2. Heat a drizzle of oil in a fry-pan on medium-high heat and cook onion, garlic and carrot for 3–4 minutes, until starting to soften. Add mince to pan and cook for 2–3 minutes, breaking up with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
  3. Add all remaining pastitsio ingredients (except pasta and cheese). Stir to combine and simmer on low for 8–10 minutes, until thickened. While mince is cooking, cook pasta in pot of boiling water for 8–9 minutes, until just tender. Drain and return to pot with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
  4. Melt butter in a small pot on medium heat. Add flour and whisk for about 1 minute, until flour turns a sandy colour. Add milk in thirds, whisking until smooth and thick, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat, add cheese and salt, season with pepper and stir until smooth. Set Béchamel sauce aside.
  5. Add mince to cooked pasta, stir to combine and season with salt and pepper. Place into a large baking dish. Pour over béchamel sauce, then sprinkle over first measure of cheese. Place under grill for 3–5 minutes, until cheese is golden and bubbling. Remove from oven and rest for 5 minutes.
  6. While pastitsio rests, finely shred lettuce and slice tomatoes into 1cm wedges. Place in a medium bowl and toss with extra-virgin olive oil and vinegar.
  7. Divide chicken and bacon Greek pastitsio between plates and serve salad on the side.

Nutritional Information

Energy 2692 kj
643 kcal
Protein 38.3g
Carbohydrate 60.1g
Fat 24.9g