Fennel-Bacon Pasta Salad

  Salads

We love it when a recipe turns out to be simple to prepare but elegant enough to serve at a formal dinner. Serve this pasta as a main dish for 4 people, or make it a side dish and make 8 people happy. The pasta is best served warm, but chilling it is another tasty option.

Fennel-Bacon Pasta Salad

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TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. Cook: 20 min.
YIELD: 16 servings.

Ingredients

  • 1 package (16 ounces) spiral pasta
  • 6 thick-sliced bacon strips, chopped
  • 3 small fennel bulbs, thinly sliced
  • 1-1/2 cups walnut halves
  • 1-1/4 cups (5 ounces) crumbled Stilton cheese, divided
  • 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • 1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  • 2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Remove drippings, reserving 3 tablespoons. Saute fennel in reserved drippings for 4-6 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add walnuts; cook 3-4 minutes longer or until toasted.
  • 3. Drain pasta, reserving 1/3 cup pasta water. Add pasta, bacon and 3/4 cup cheese to fennel mixture; sprinkle with pepper and salt. Toss lightly until cheese is melted, adding enough reserved pasta water to coat pasta. Serve warm with remaining cheese. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cup: 252 calories, 13g fat (3g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 301mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 3g fiber), 9g protein.

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