Cheesy Broccoli Pasta Bake

Preheat the oven to 220°C/ 200°C (fan)/ gas 7 and boil a kettle

Add your pasta to a pot of boiled water with a large pinch of salt and bring to the boil over a high heat and cook for initial 4-5 min (6-7 min for wholewheat)

Reboil half a kettle

Meanwhile, chop your leek[s] in half lengthways, wash thoroughly to remove any grit then top, tail and slice finely

Peel and finely chop (or grate) your garlic

Grate your cheddar cheese

After an initial 4-5 min, add your Tenderstem broccoli to the pasta and cook for a further 3-4 min or until everything is cooked with a slight bite

Once cooked, drain and return to the pot

Heat a large, wide-based pan (preferably non-stick) with 20g [30g] [40g] butter over a medium heat

Once the butter has melted, add the sliced leek[s] and cook for 5-6 min or until softened, then add the chopped garlic and cook for a further 1 min

Dissolve your vegetable stock mix in 100ml [150ml] [200ml] boiled water and add 250ml [375ml] [500ml] milk – this is your creamy stock

Add 1 tbsp [1 1/2 tbsp] [2 tbsp] flour to the pan and stir with a wooden spoon for 1-2 min

Gradually whisk in the creamy stock and cook for 5 min or until a smooth, thick sauce remains

Once thick, stir through the grated cheddar cheese, half your grated Italian hard cheese (save the rest for later!) and your Dijon mustard (not a mustard fan? Go easy!) – this is your cheese sauce

Combine the remaining grated Italian hard cheese with your panko breadcrumbs, pumpkin seeds and a pinch of salt and pepper – these are your cheesy breadcrumbs

Add the drained pasta & Tenderstem to the cheese sauce and stir it all together

Transfer to an oven-proof dish and top with the cheesy breadcrumbs

Put the dish in the oven for 10-15 min or until golden and bubbling

Meanwhile, combine your cider vinegar with 2 tbsp [3 tbsp] [4 tbsp] olive oil and a pinch of salt in a large bowl – this is your dressing

Wash your salad, then pat it dry with kitchen paper

Add the salad to the dressing and gently mix together – this is your dressed salad