Description
A deliciously creamy and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender leeks, crunchy walnuts, and soft goat’s cheese. This quick and easy recipe combines gently sautéed leeks and walnuts with al dente pasta, finished with melting goat’s cheese for a satisfying meal that’s perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 200g short pasta (casarecce recommended)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 leek, thinly sliced
- 30g walnuts, roughly chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- ½ tsp chilli flakes (optional)
- 100g soft goat’s cheese (ensure it’s vegetarian if needed)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve a mugful of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta thoroughly.
- Sauté leeks and walnuts: Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the sliced leeks and chopped walnuts, season with salt and pepper, then reduce the heat to medium. Cook gently for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the leeks are softened and walnuts are lightly toasted.
- Add garlic and chilli flakes: Stir in the crushed garlic cloves and chilli flakes if using. Cook for an additional 2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
- Toss pasta with leek mixture: Add the drained pasta to the pan along with a generous splash of the reserved pasta cooking water. Stir well to combine and allow the goat’s cheese to begin melting into the pasta.
- Add goat’s cheese: Crumble half of the goat’s cheese into the pasta, stirring to incorporate and create a creamy texture. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Serve: Transfer the pasta to serving dishes and dot over the remaining goat’s cheese for added richness and flavor. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- Use casarecce or any other short pasta like penne or rigatoni for best texture and sauce cling.
- The chilli flakes are optional but add a nice subtle heat to the dish.
- Reserve pasta water helps loosen the sauce and bind flavors effectively.
- Ensure the goat’s cheese used is soft for better melting and creaminess.
- For a nuttier flavor, lightly toast the walnuts before adding them to the pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: leek pasta, goat cheese pasta, walnut pasta, vegetarian pasta, easy pasta recipe, Italian pasta dish
