Creamy Rigatoni with Bacon Lardons with Garlicky Greens and Creme Fraiche

Step 1

Put a large saucepan of water with 1/2 tsp salt on to boil for the pasta. Halve, peel and thinly slice the shallot. Peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press). Trim the courgette. Use a vegetable peeler to peel long ribbons from all sides of the length of the courgette. Stop when you get to the spongy centre. Finely chop the chives (use scissors if easier). Zest and halve the lemon.

Step 2

Once boiling, add the rigatoni to the water and bring back to the boil. Cook until tender, 12 mins. When ready, reserve some of the pasta water for the sauce (see ingredients for amount), then drain in a colander. Pop the pasta back into the pan, drizzle with oil and stir through to stop it sticking together.

Step 3

Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of oil in a large frying pan on medium heat. Once hot, add the courgette ribbons and season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, 2-3 mins, then stir in the garlic and cook for 1 min more. Add the spinach a handful at a time and cook until wilted and piping hot, 1-2 mins. Pop the cooked greens into a large bowl and cover with foil to keep warm.

Step 4

Put your (now empty) frying pan back on medium heat with a drizzle of oil. Once hot, add the shallot and cook until softened, stirring occasionally, 4-5 mins. Stir in the veg stock paste and reserved pasta water, then simmer until reduced by half, 3-4 mins. Mix in the creme fraiche and heat through until piping hot, then season with pepper. Stir through the chives and three quarters of the grated hard Italian style cheese.

Step 5

Add the cooked pasta to your sauce along with half the greens and stir together. Add a splash of water to loosen if needed. Add a pinch of lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice, salt and pepper if needed.

Step 6

Serve the creamy pasta in bowls with the remaining greens on top. Finish with a sprinkle of the remaining hard Italian style cheese. Enjoy!

Step 7

Step 4 MOD: If you’ve chosen to add bacon lardons to your meal, before you add the shallot to the pan, add the bacon lardons and stir-fry until golden, 4-5 mins. Add the shallot to the bacon continue with the rest of the recipe as instructed. IMPORTANT: Wash your hands and equipment after handling raw meat. Cook lardons thoroughly.