Courgette, Pea and Bacon Pasta Shells

by Phillippa Spence
Star 5.0
    10m prep time
    30m total time
    Easy level
    13 ingredients

For a lighter version, you can use a little less bacon and swap out mascarpone for cottage cheese or ricotta. To make this dish totally veggie friendly, you can omit the bacon and use vegetarian Parmesan.

Method

Based on 4 servings, adjust as needed.

Step 1

Place a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add half the oil and the bacon and sauté for 2–3 minutes until golden. Transfer to a plate. Add the remaining 1 tsp of oil, the garlic and courgette to the pan. Fry for 3–5 minutes or until golden, then turn the heat to low and keep warm while you make the sauce.

Step 2

Put the mascarpone, Parmesan, mustard and lemon zest in a small saucepan and place over a low heat. Stir until smooth, then add the spinach. Allow it to defrost, stirring occasionally, until the spinach has wilted and the sauce is creamy.

Step 3

Meanwhile, cook the pasta shells in a large pan of boiling, salted water, according to the packet instructions.

Step 4

When the pasta is nearly cooked, increase the heat under the courgette pan and add the peas. Drain the pasta shells, reserving a cupful of the cooking water, and tip into the frying pan. Remove from the heat, spoon over the sauce with a good splash of pasta water and mix well. Sprinkle over the bacon. Season to taste and serve with a little lemon juice and grated Parmesan.
  • Ingredients
  • Based on 4 servings
  • Black Pepper to taste 1 x Sainsbury's Black Peppercorn Grinder 50g
  • 2 Garlic Cloves, crushed 1 x Sainsbury's Large Garlic
  • 300g Courgettes, sliced 1 x Sainsbury's Courgettes 500g
  • 50g Parmesan, freshly grated, plus extra to serve 1 x Sainsbury's Grana Padano Cheese 200g
  • 1 tsp Wholegrain Mustard 1 x Sainsbury's Wholegrain Mustard 180g
  • 1 Lemon, grated zest, plus a squeeze of juice 1 x Sainsbury's Lemons
  • 350g Dried Pasta Shells 1 x Sainsbury's Conchiglie Shells Pasta 500g
  • 250g Mascarpone 1 x Sainsbury's Mascarpone Cheese 250g
  • 100g Frozen Whole Leaf Spinach 1 x Sainsbury's Chopped Spinach 900g
  • 2 tsp Olive Oil 1 x Sainsbury's Olive Oil 500ml
  • 150g Frozen Peas 1 x Stamford Street Co. Peas 850g
  • Maldon Salt, to taste 1 x Maldon Sea Salt Flakes 250g
  • 6 slices Smoked Streaky Bacon, thinly sliced 1 x Sainsbury's Smoked Streaky Bacon Rashers x14 300g
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