Cheeseburger Pasta Bake

Cheap, Easy & Vegetarian! No, this isn’t tinder, it’s a flexible recipe that you can bend to your own design (Includes Dairy & Meat Alternatives). Caution: Vine & Meme references ahead.

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Step 1

PREP: - If using garlic cloves, chop very finely or blend into a paste. - Slice the applewood smoked cheese into strips. Mine are roughly 1cm x 0.5cm. IF BAKING: Preheat the oven to 200 Degrees

Step 2

Let’s get your pasta started! Fill 3/4 of a large pot with water, and place on a high heat. Add Salt, 1/2 of a Beef stock melt and a small dash of olive oil. Bring to the boil, add your pasta and then lower the heat to medium. Simmer until cooked, drain, then leave until sauce is prepped. (There should only really be about 5 minutes difference if you cook them simultaneously)

Step 3

Now, the mince. Soy Mince can be flavourless, so it’s important to season from the start. Add 1-2 Tbsps of Oil to a frying pan, then season the oil with Pepper, Oregano, Mixed Herbs. Place the pan onto a high-medium heat until it starts to bubble. Add your mince, then stir gently until cooked and browned. Once browned, add garlic paste and the other 1/2 of the beef stock cube/melt. Once satisfied with your mince, turn off the heat.

Step 4

Saucy times ahead, time to mix in the tomato and mascarpone sauce! Once your frying pan has stopped sizzling ostentatiously, add the sauce and stir until consistency is smooth. Keep stirring, and keep the sauce from burning on the edge of the pan. You can now turn the heat back on, at your lowest level. Take half of the smoked cheese and 1 tbsp cheese spread, add to the mix, and stir until all of the cheese has melted.

Step 5

Time to combine! Mix the sauce and pasta until everything looks good enough to eat, then if you’re in a rush - tuck in!

Step 6

If you’ve got the time, pour your pasta into a prepared baking dish or pan. Spoon 3 tsps of cheese spread (or two dairylea triangles), onto the left, right and centre of the dish. Sprinkle on the rest of the smoked cheese (and mozzarella if you’d find the smoked cheese too strong without it) and stick in the oven for 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the cheese, you want it melted but not solidified or burnt. Serve whilst hot with garlic bread or doughballs! Now dig in, and either praise my name or curse my tastebuds from the high heavens. It’s okay if you made too much, it’s amazing the next day :)