Penne with tomato bacon sauce

penne with tomato bacon sauce

This is the pasta sauce I crave more than any other. It’s easy to make and perfect when there’s a finicky eater at the table because the bacon is irresistible. You can combine the simple flavours of a great tomato sauce with crowd-pleasing bacon, and you’re guaranteed a winner.

Serving: Serves 4

ingredients

8 slices bacon, chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1x 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, rosemary or oregano
a sprinkle or two sea salt and freshly grated pepper
a 1 pound box penne pasta
instructions

Toss the bacon into a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add a splash of water. Cook until the water evaporates and the bacon begins to brown. Continue stirring, lowering the heat a notch, until the bacon is crispy and brown. Drain away most (or some) of its fat, leaving enough behind to sauté the vegetables.

Add the onion and garlic and cook until they soften and begin to caramelize. Pour in the tomatoes, rinsing out the can with a splash of water and adding that too. Sprinkle in the herb of your choice and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes or so.

Cook penne in lots of boiling salted water. (See Cooking Pasta, page xx.) Toss with the sauce and enjoy!