Healthy Pasta Bake

Prep: 15 mins

Cooking: 10 mins

Difficulty: easy

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

To buy:

1 medium cauliflower

200g ham chopped into small cubes

3 – 4 handfuls of frozen peas

200g grated cheddar plus extra 50g for topping

Store-cupboard essentials:

500g pasta of your choice ( we like shells)

2 cloves garlic peeled

1 tin cannellini beans rinsed and drained.

30g grated parmesan or cheddar

25g Butter (optional)

1 cup of milk

Salt & pepper to taste

BRING a large pot of water to the boil

ADD the cauliflower florets and the 2 cloves of garlic and let them cook for 5-10 minutes.

REMOVE with a slotted spoon the cauliflower and garlic and place to one side retaining the boiling water for later.

BLITZ in a kitchen blender the cooked cauliflower, garlic and drained cannellini beans until a creamy consistency.

REMOVE now a little puree sauce if feeding your baby and to the rest add the cup of milk and season with salt and pepper.

BRING the cauliflower water back up to a boil and cook your pasta to just under the recommended time throwing in the frozen peas for the last 5 minutes.

DRAIN the pasta and peas together and place in a large oven proof gratin dish.

ADD the creamy bean sauce, chopped ham and grated cheddar cheese tossing to combine.

SPRINKLE with the remaining cheese and dot with the butter.

BAKE in a hot oven until bubbly and golden brown on top, 7 to 10 minutes.