Creamy Sausage and Bacon Pasta

Ingredients

• 4 good quality pork sausages about 270g/9.5oz
• 400 g (14oz) spirali pasta - (or your favourite pasta shapes)
• 8 rashers (strips) streaky bacon (about 125g/4.5oz)
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 onion peeled and finely chopped
• 150 g (1 ½ packed cups) grated mature/strong cheddar cheese
• 180 ml (¾ cup) double (heavy) cream
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F.
2. Place the sausages on a baking sheet and cook in the oven for approximately 20 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the oven and place on a chopping board.
3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling water until al dente, then drain in a colander, reserving about a cup of the pasta cooking water.
4. Place a large frying pan over medium heat to heat up.
5. Add the bacon to the pan and cook for about 5-6 minutes, turning once, until browned and crispy. Remove from the pan and place on a chopping board.
6. Add the sunflower oil to the bacon fat in the pan.
7. Add the chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until softened.
8. Add the drained pasta to the pan with the onion.
9. Add the grated cheddar cheese, heavy cream, and black pepper to the pan and stir until the cheese melts.
10. Slice the cooked sausages and bacon, then add to the pan with the pasta.
11. Stir everything together.
12. If desired, add splashes of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce to your liking.
13. Transfer the pasta to bowls and serve topped with chopped parsley and additional black pepper if desired.