Caramelised Leek Pasta with Lemon Crumbs

1 - Get chopping

‍Fill a kettle with water and bring it to a boil - this will be for the pasta later. Split 2 small leeks in half lengthwise and run them under cold water to wash off any dirt, then slice the washed leeks as thinly as you can. Peel, halve and finely slice 1 brown onion. Peel and finely slice 4 cloves of garlic.

‍2 - Start caramelising

‍Heat 50g of butter and 2 tsp of olive oil in a large frying pan you have a lid for over a medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add all the leeks, onion and a big pinch of salt. Fry, stirring frequently for 10-12 minutes, until caramelised and golden. Get on with the rest of the dish in between stirring.

‍3 - Get the pasta on

‍Add 200g of dried pasta to another large frying pan along with a generous pinch of salt. Cover with boiling water from the kettle and place the pan over high heat. Cook for 8-10 minutes, until soft but still with a slight bite. Get on with sauce in the next steps while you wait.

‍4 - Get the breadcrumbs ready

‍Heat 2 tsp of olive oil in a small frying pan. Add 30g of panko breadcrumbs, a pinch of salt, a grind of black pepper and finely grate in the zest from 1 lemon. Stir well and fry for 2-3 minutes until the breadcrumbs are golden.

‍5 - Add parsley

‍Finely chop 10g of parsley and stir through the breadcrumbs. Remove from the heat and set aside for garnish.

‍6 - Finish the sauce

‍Once the leeks and onions are caramelised, add the garlic and stir through. Cook for 1 minute. Chuck in 150g of crème fraîche and stir well to melt it through the leeks.

‍7 - Drain and mix

‍Reserve a mugful of the pasta's cooking water, then drain the rest through a colander over the sink. Add the pasta to the pan with the caramelised leeks.

‍8 - Get saucy

‍Squeeze in the juice from 1 lemon and finely grate in 30g of hard Italian cheese. Give it a good toss to coat. If it looks a little thick, loosen with a splash of the reserved cooking water - we are looking for a glossy sauce that coats the pasta. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

‍9 - Serve

‍Divide the pasta between shallow bowls, and top each generously with the crispy breadcrumbs. Tuck in!