I have been engrossed in the Stanly Tucci series on Italy. Since watching many of his recipes, I decided to do some research on this dish. I scoured the over 400 cook books that I have and found several variations on the dish, including one from the Frugal Gourmet. (I learned a vast amount watching his series many years ago.) This pasta dish is one of the most well knows sauces in current Italian cuisine.
It is a traditional Italian pasta dish which uses pork cheek or quanciale. As this ingredient is a bit difficult to get here, several recipes substituted pancetta or bacon. I decided to use the bacon the I make. You can find how to make homemade bacon on this site, as well as my Youtube Channel. The bacon should be diced into medium small pieces The sauce also uses fresh tomatoes, It makes a filling spicy meal and is a dish that you can make quickly! Enjoy.
Ingredients:
3/4 to 1 pound thick bacon, coarsely chopped (not flavored, ie. maple, applewood, etc.0
1 medium sweet white onion, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped
2 to 3 cups of cherry sweet tomatoes coarsely pulsed in food processor
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Pasta water as needed.
3/4 to 1 pound of pasta cooked al dente’
Pecorino Romano or Parmesan Cheese to top the cooked pasta
How to:
Boil pasta according to directions on the package. Use spaghetti noodles or penne.
Lightly brown the bacon in a large skillet. In a separate sauce pan, heat the two tablespoons of olive oil and add the pulsed tomatoes. Allow the tomaotes to cook on medium for approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
Remove the cooked bacon from the skillet and place aside. Add the onions to the bacon fat and lower the heat. Cook the onions until slightly translucent and soft. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
Add the tomatoes, crushed red pepper, salt/pepper, and bacon. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated. Drain pasta and add to the skillet. Toss the pasta with the sauce, adding a small amount of pasta water in needed to loosen the sauce. Ensure all of the pasta is covered in sauce.
To serve, use a serving fork to twirl the pasta while using a spoon to make a nest. Sprinkle liberally with cheese and enjoy!
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