Chicken And Leek Pasta Bake | Greedy Gourmet

Question 1

What’s the best cheese to use in a pasta bake?

Accepted Answer

To bring an extra richness to this dish, you’ll need a cheese that’s full of flavour. It’s also very important that you use a cheese that melts well.

You could use cheddar cheese, especially an extra mature type. Godminster Cheddar and Snowdonia Little Black Bomber are both intense, beautifully flavoured cheddars.

For me though, it’s parmesan all the way. The deep, fruitlike, nutty flavour is tailor-made for this dish, as the flavours sit in harmony with the chicken, leek and pasta. Get authentic Parmigiano Reggiano – you won’t be disappointed.

Question 2

Do you add cooked chicken to a pasta bake?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this recipe calls for the chicken to be cooked beforehand. To cook, dice 500g of skinless chicken breasts into bitesize pieces. Then, add a tablespoon of olive oil to a frying pan and fry the diced chicken breasts on a medium heat for 12-15 minutes, until lightly brown on the outside.

When it’s cooked, add the chicken to a mixing bowl with the sauce, as well as the cooked leeks and cooked pasta.

Question 3

What other ingredients can I use in this recipe?

Accepted Answer

This recipe already tastes absolutely fantastic. Still, it’s very flexible and there’s a lot you can add that can elevate the taste even further.

A few drops of Worcestershire sauce is one way to get a whole lot more flavour. If you haven’t got any of this magical ingredient, there are plenty of alternatives to Worcestershire sauce.

You could also add a teaspoon or two of mustard, which really works well with the flavours in this recipe – especially the chicken, the leek and the cheese.

The addition of ham or bacon also works beautifully.

Question 4

What do you serve with chicken and leek pasta?

Accepted Answer

The best thing to serve with this dish is a healthy, crisp green salad. The crisp freshness makes for a good balance for the big, hearty creaminess of the chicken and leek pasta.

Here are a few greedy gourmet favourites, to give you a little inspiration:

Mediterranean salad – made with traditional ingredients such as extra virgin olive oil, red onion, feta cheese, black olives and cucumber, this is one easy to make, utterly amazing salad!

Rocket salad with avocado, blue cheese and pecans – this peppery, nutty salad has a whole load of flavour and would be the perfect complement to this chicken and leek pasta bake

Pear and rocket salad – the pear brings a little fruity element, working perfectly with the leek, and the rocket adds a peppery freshness

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