Pasta alla Amatriciana
Total time: 30 minutes
This is a classic Italian dish, with probably as many variations as there are Italian cooks. Mine comes from a combination of cook books blended with what I like. Make it as hot as you like.
Ingredients:
- fresh linguini, or similar, 8oz (240gr) or 4oz (120gr) dry
- 4oz (120gr) lean bacon
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/3 cup (3oz, 90ml) red wine
- 15oz (450gr) plum tomatoes
- 1/4 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- 1/4 cup (1oz, 30gr) Parmesan cheese plus more for sprinkling
Instructions:
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Chop onion and mince garlic.
- Drain tomatoes, reserving juice, and roughly chop.
- In medium skillet sauté bacon until just starting to crisp. Remove and set aside.
- Drain all but 1 tbs fat from pan.
- Add onion, garlic and sauté until tender.
- Add chopped tomatoes with their juices, wine and herbs.
- Tear bacon into chunks and add to skillet.
- Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
- To finish: Drain pasta and toss with Parmesan, then sauce and serve with more Parmesan on the side.