Emilia Clarke Details Her Father’s Pasta Recipe

Emilia Clarke Celebrates 40th Birthday With Cooking Passion Rooted in London West End Childhood

Emilia Clarke marks her 40th birthday by leaning into a lifelong passion for cooking and hosting inherited from her late father, Peter Clarke, a theatrical sound engineer in London’s West End, hola.com reported. The Game of Thrones star, who famously played Daenerys Targaryen, regularly prepares massive quantities of food for gatherings as if feeding a crowd of a hundred people.

Clarke Cooks Recipes Inspired by Her Father

The actress developed her culinary interests from her father, whom she has described in past interviews as an extraordinary home cook. On the Dish podcast hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett, Clarke detailed her habit of cooking outsized portions for friends and experimenting with recipes by British-Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi. Among her repertoire, one specific dish remains tied to her father’s memory: a pasta dish featuring leeks, bacon, and multiple cheeses.

Ingredients and Method for Peter Clarke Macaroni and Cheese

The comfort food dish associated with Peter Clarke requires precise ingredients and a specific preparation method, according to hola.com. The recipe serves four people and utilizes standard kitchen staples combined with smoked bacon and leeks.

Ingredients for Four Portions

• 400 grams of macaroni
• 150 grams of smoked bacon
• 2 leeks
• 50 grams of butter
• 40 grams of flour
• 600 milliliters of milk
• 200 grams of grated cheddar cheese
• 60 grams of grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon of mustard
• Nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste

Preparation Method

1. Boil the macaroni in salted water until cooked, then drain and set aside.
2. Slice the leeks thinly and cut the bacon into small cubes.
3. Brown the bacon in a skillet until slightly crisp, remove it from the pan, and use part of the rendered bacon fat to cook the leeks over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes until tender.
4. Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour, and cook for one minute while stirring.
5. Gradually pour in the milk while mixing continuously to create a smooth béchamel sauce.
6. Simmer the sauce for 5 to 8 minutes, then stir in the cheddar cheese, mustard, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg until the cheese melts completely.
7. Combine the cooked pasta, bacon, leeks, and béchamel sauce in a baking dish.
8. Top the surface with grated parmesan and bake in a preheated oven at 200 °C for 12 to 15 minutes.
9. Switch to the broiler grill for 2 to 4 minutes, watching closely until a golden-brown crust forms on top.