Leek Pasty Pastai Cennin Food

PASTA WITH BACON AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water; drain the pasta.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels; pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings from the skillet.
• Add the leeks to the drippings in the skillet. Season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the heavy cream and cook until it begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.
• Add the pasta to the skillet along with the parmesan, half of the bacon and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat, adding enough of the reserved pasta cooking water to loosen. To serve, top with the remaining bacon, more parmesan and parsley.

CHEESY LEEK & BACON PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the leeks and 2 tbsp water, and cook for about 10 mins until very soft. Add the bacon, turn up the heat and fry until cooked.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain and reserve a mug of the cooking water.
• Spoon cheese into the leek and bacon mix, adding some of the reserved cooking water. Season and stir gently over a low heat until melted. Toss through the cooked pasta, adding a little more cooking water, if needed, to help the sauce coat the pasta.

LEEK, CHEESE & POTATO PASTIES

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes in boiling, salted water for 5-8 mins until tender, but still holding their shape. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the leeks and thyme and soften for 10-12 mins. Drain potatoes and add to the leeks with the mustard and plenty of seasoning. Stir in the cream and leave to cool a little.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. On a floured surface, roll out the pastry to the thickness of a £1 coin. Use a side plate or a bowl as a template to cut out 6 x 15cm circles. Mix the cheese with the leek mixture and pile a mound of the mix onto the centre of each pastry circle. Brush around edges with a little egg, then bring edges together and crimp with your fingers to seal.
• Place pasties on a baking tray lined with baking parchment, brush with the remaining egg and bake for 40-45 mins until golden brown. Serve warm or leave to cool.

WELSH LEEK & BACON PASTY (PASTAI CENNIN)

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 180°C (350 F).
• Turn short crust pastry dough onto a lightly-floured work surface and cut in half. Roll the two halves out until they are the same size as dinner plates.
• Lay one round of dough on a lightly-greased baking sheet then scatter the leeks over the top (leave the edges of the pasty clear, however).
• Lay the bacon on top of the leeks then season with salt and black pepper before dotting the butter on top.
• Spread parsley, sage and egg over bacon and leek, leaving edges of pasty clear.
• Lightly brush around edge with egg/milk glaze.
• Lay the second piece of pastry on top then crimp down the edges with the tines of a fork to seal.
• Brush glaze over top crust.
• Prick the top of the pasty with the fork to make steam holes.
• Transfer to an oven and bake for about 40 minutes, until the pastry is golden and the contents are cooked.

CAWL CENNIN (LEEK AND POTATO SOUP)

Steps:

• Peel and dice the potatoes and slice the leeks thinly.
• Simmer the potatoes and leeks together with the chicken stock, salt, and pepper and cook for 40 to 50 minutes until potatoes and leeks soft.
• Mash the vegetables or puree them in a food processor.
• Check the seasonings and reheat, adding the cream, be careful not to boil at this stage.
• Garnish with parsley.

LEEK AND GORGONZOLA PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat.
• Add chopped onions and saute until tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add leeks, green onions and shallots, saute until very tender, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite.
• Drain well, reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid.
• Return pasta to same pot.
• Add onion mixture, toss to combine.
• Mix in reserved cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls if pasta is dry.
• Mix in cheese, season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to large bowl, serve.

LEEK PASTY (PASTAI CENNIN)

Steps:

• Line the bottom of a pie dish with half of the pastry.
• Cover the piecrust with the finely chopped leeks and sprinkle with the sage. Season with salt and pepper.
• Lay the strips of bacon across the leeks and add the beaten egg.
• Cover with the rest of the pastry and cut a few slits in the top.
• Bake in a preheated 400 F oven for 30-40 minutes.
• Serve hot.