Some days, I'm left with very random things in my cupboards with which to make dinner. Last night was one of those days. I had some baby new potatoes, broccoli and bacon that needed eating but what to do with it?
Cook it all up, add a bit of pasta and pesto and eat it seemed the obvious answer. This may seem a carb-heavy dish but it's surprisingly light and very tasty. And importantly, very quick to make.
This recipe makes enough for 4 or two with leftovers for lunch the next day.
You'll need:
- 500g baby new potatoes
- One head of broccoli - you can substitute green beans for broccoli or have both
- 4-6 rashers of bacon, cut into bits - or some pancetta
- 250g pasta - I used gigli for this one but you could use spaghetti or whatever you have that needs to be used
- One tablespoon pesto
- Cut the potatoes into halves and add with the pasta to boiling water to cook for however long the pasta takes. About 10-12 minutes should do it.
- While the pasta and potatoes are cooking, heat up a drizzle of oil in a deep frying pan, or a saute pan if you have one, and add the bacon bits. Once the bacon's started cooking, add the broccoli and stir enough to keep the broccoli from burning.
- When the pasta and potatoes are cooked, drain them and add to the frying pan. Add the pesto and stir through over a low heat until everything is coated. Et voila! Oddments made tasty!
I'm sorry but this looks rank.
ReplyDeleteIf I showed it to my Italian friends, they'd quite rightly say 'Che schifo!'
Not the best photo we could have chosen, is it?
ReplyDeleteStill, nothing like hiding behind an anonymous comment to moan at others...
Bacon, pasta, potato and pesto? What's not to love? Perfect for rainy Thursdays.
ReplyDeleteIt's not just the photo, it's the recipe. Potato and pasta is just a no-go, I don't think any photo could have done this justice. The dish is not really in keeping with the other great recipes on your website e.g. the gnocchi (potato pasta, not potato AND pasta) and steak with Chimmichurri.
ReplyDeleteApologies for the outburst anyway, rainy day blues but this really is nothing more than student food.
Lisa, a reader, in Brighton (still anonymous).
yay! i've been looking for tasty ways to use bacon and pasta together. this sounds wonderful with the pesto, broccoli, and potatoes. can't wait to make this at home! :)
ReplyDeleteI see this as a recipe where you could also add that odd onion you have lurking, those last few mushrooms, or an odd pepper. Leave out the potatoes if they offend you, but ultimately - it sounds like delicious quick leftovers!
ReplyDeleteWho hasn't come in from work and thought 'I WANT ALL THE CARBS'?
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with doubled up carbs in a meal - chip butty is proof of that.
And while you're at it you could throw in the contents of your fruit bowl and bread bin! I was so wrong - pasta and pesto is a great base on which to lay any old crap you have lying around.
ReplyDeleteOK, Lisa. You've had your say. You don't like this recipe - you've made that very clear more than once. Discussion and debate on the site is something that we welcome, but we're not rude about it.
ReplyDeleteUnnecessary ranting from Lisa methinks! If you don't like the sound of it, don't make it then you don't have to eat it. Personally, I think it sounds lush x
ReplyDeletePasta and Potatoes is what it's ALL about
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/pasta-alla-genovese-5162
Sainsburys do frozen pesto in an ice cube tray - each one is equivalent to a tablespoon of pesto in terms of flavour but only 22 calories :D
I'd forgotten about this! I've seen a lot of pasta/potato recipes since.
DeleteTo be honest, I'm always going to find it difficult to get angry about carbs.