LEEK AND BACON LINGUINE — Fresh leeks, bacon and linguine come together in a simple butter cream sauce.
Leeks are one of those vegetables I’ve grown to love. They’re definitely the star of the show in this Leek and Bacon Linguine!
Leeks add a wonderful, slightly sweet flavor to soups and pastas, and believe it or not, leeks are pretty amazing on their own. Check out this recipe for Sautéed Buttered Leeks to see what I mean.
When choosing leeks, look for slender, straight plants with fresh green leaves. If they’re more than about 1 1/2 inches wide, they might be tough, and less tasty.
Avoid leeks with wilted or yellowing tops. Leeks tend to get pretty dirty, so be sure to wash the dirt out of all those layers once you’ve cut them open.
In most recipes, like this Leek and Bacon Linguine, you just want to use the white and pale green parts of the leek. The green tops are way too tough to eat on their own.
I know there aren’t many things that don’t go well with bacon, but leeks and bacon are a pretty perfect match. Especially when they’re tossed together with some pasta, and a bit of butter and cream. It’s a wonderful combination of slightly sweet, savory and salty.
And this dish is so easy to prepare, you’ll have dinner on the table in about 20 minutes!
Be sure to save this Leek and Bacon Linguine recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Leek and Bacon Linguine
- Butter
- Bacon
- Produce: leeks, fresh parsley
- Spices: salt and pepper, thyme
- Chicken broth
- Heavy cream
- Linguine
- Parmesan cheese
Leek and Bacon Linguine
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 6 slices bacon cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 medium leeks white and pale-green parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced crosswise
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 16 ounces linguine
- 3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan plus more for garnish
- 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add bacon and cook, stirring often, until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, 7-10 minutes. Add leeks and season with salt and pepper.
- Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring often, until leeks begin to brown, 5-8 minutes. Add broth and stir to remove browned bits from bottom of pan. Stir in cream and thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and coats the back of a spoon, 5-8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid.
- Add cooked pasta, 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid to the cream sauce and stir to coat. Add more cooking liquid as needed, until sauce reaches desired consistency.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Before serving, garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, if desired.
Nutrition
Never miss a Let’s Dish Recipe:
Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter | Google+
If you love this recipe, you might also like:
Tomato Bacon Carbonara
Slow Cooker Alfredo Sauce
BLT Pasta
Who Dished It Up First: Adapted from Bon Appetite
Last Updated on 2024-03-22 by Danelle
Leave a Reply