Annabel Karmel’s haddock and spinach pasta bake recipe

Kids will love this tasty pasta bake, with just a little healthy spinach and smoked haddock to give this dish a lovely flavour

Ingredients

• 225g (8oz) penne pasta
• 50g (2oz) butter
• 50g (2oz) plain flour
• 600ml (1 pint) milk
• 1tsp wholegrain mustard
• 1tbsp fresh dill, chopped
• 100g (4 oz) Parmesan cheese, grated
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 200g (7oz) baby spinach
• 200g (7oz) fresh haddock, skinned
• 50g (2 oz) smoked haddock, skinned
• juice of 1/2 lemon

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6.
2. Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to the instructions on the packet. Drain and refresh in cold water. Set aside.
3. Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the flour and stir over the heat for 2 minutes. Add the milk slowly, stirring until combined. Bring to the boil and simmer for 2 minutes until it has thickened. Add the mustard, dill and half of the Parmesan. Season well.
4. Heat a frying pan, add the spinach and fry over a high heat until wilted, then add to the sauce. Mix the penne with the sauce. Slice the haddock into 2 cm cubes and fold them into the mixture with the lemon juice.
5. Spoon into an ovenproof dish and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Bake for 20–25 minutes until bubbling and lightly golden on top.