One Pot Veggie & Cheesy Pasta

Super easy, one-pot style mac & cheese with added vegetables. Quick to prepare and cook, minimum washing up. Perfect for batch cooking and reheating in the microwave. Simple enough that children can help cook it, add their favourite vegetables, they will love it!!

Prep time: 10 minutes / Cooking time: 14 – 16 minutes

Serves 4.

INGREDIENTS:

• 350g dried pasta

• 1 white onion, peeled & finely chopped

• 150g mushrooms, washed & sliced

• 1 red pepper, diced

• 750ml milk

• 350ml vegetable stock

• 160g cheddar cheese, grated

• Fresh chives, finely chopped

• Salt & pepper to taste

METHOD:

1. In a large saucepan, add the pasta, chopped onions, sliced mushrooms, diced pepper, milk & vegetable stock. Mix well.

2. Turn on the heat and bring it to a gentle simmer. Cook for 14-16 minutes (depending on pasta size) until the pasta is cooked stirring often to prevent the pasta getting stuck at the bottom of the saucepan. The ‘sauce’ should have thickened by now.

3. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the grated cheese & seasoning. Mix well until all the cheese has melted and you have a nice thick shiny sauce.

4. Serve garnished with chopped chives.

TIPS:

✔ Use any type of hard cheese you like best, great recipe to use bits of left-over cheese you may have in the fridge.

✔ Use dried herbs instead of fresh, just add them in at step 1 with the rest of the ingredients.

✔ Swap to different vegetables. If frozen (like peas/broccoli) add at the beginning, if from a jar or tin (like sweetcorn/ roasted peppers) add towards the end, just with enough time to heat them up.

✔ For extra protein & flavour some leftover cooked meats like chicken, ham or bacon.