EASY (20 - 30 minutes)
BYO Ingredients & Utensils
3 tsp olive oil
1½ tsp sugar
1 tbs plain flour
60ml (¼ cup) milk
1L (4 cup) baking dish
medium saucepan
box grater
medium deep frypan
Instructions
1. Prep ingredients
Lightly grease a 1L (4 cup) baking dish. Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to the boil for the pasta. Thinly slice the onion. Trim the beans and cut into 3cm lengths. Coarsely grate the cheese.
2. Cook pasta and beans
Cook the pasta in the pan of boiling water for 8 mins. Add the beans and cook for a further 2 mins or until the pasta is al dente and the beans are tender. Reserve 60ml (¼ cup) cooking water (see Kitchen 101), then drain.
3. Caramelise onion
Meanwhile, preheat the grill to high. Heat 2 tsp olive oil in a medium deep frypan over medium-high heat. Cook the onion, stirring, for 5 mins or until soft. Add 1½ tsp sugar, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring regularly, for 2-3 mins until caramelised. Remove from the pan.
4. Make bacon sauce
Heat 1 tsp olive oil in the same pan over medium-high heat. Cook the bacon, stirring, for 4-5 mins until crisp. Add half the country seasoning* and 1 tbs plain flour and cook, stirring, for 1 min or until golden. Stir in 60ml (¼ cup) milk and 125ml (½ cup) water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 2 mins or until slightly thickened.
5. Grill and serve up
Add the pasta and beans and onion to the bacon sauce. Gradually add the reserved cooking water, stirring constantly until the sauce coats the pasta and looks slightly glossy. Taste, then season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the baking dish and scatter with the cheese. Grill for 2-4 mins until golden and the cheese is melted. Divide the pasta bake among bowls and enjoy!
6. Kitchen 101
We're reserving some of the pasta cooking water to add to the bacon sauce. The starch in the cooking water helps to emulsify the sauce so that it binds and coats the pasta.