I wanted the flavours of a BLT but didn't fancy a sandwich for dinner so came up with this idea. Lettuce wouldn't work so I replaced it with rocket piled on the top at the end. When the rocket is stirred into the warm pasta it adds another delightful layer of flavour.
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Ingredients
80gpancetta, guanciale or bacondiced
1onionfinely diced
1clovegarlicfinely sliced
1tbsptomato puree
pinchsugar
400gtin chopped tomatoes
1red birds eye chillifinely sliced
10basil leaves torn
150gpasta shape
6cherry tomatoesquartered
2handfulsrocket
drizzle extra virgin olive oil to finish
Instructions
Cook the pancetta until golden brown and the fat has separated. Remove the bacon bits and leave the fat in the pan.
Add the onions to the bacon fat and sauté over a low heat for about 7 minutes until soft. Add the garlic. Add tomato puree, tinned tomatoes and fresh chill. Season with salt and a few pinches of sugar. Leave to simmer for 20 minutes.
Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the pack instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside.
With the sauce over a low heat and the basil then the pasta and stir to coat, cook for 2 minutes. To serve, dived the pasta between two bowls, sprinkle with bacon bits, fresh tomatoes and pile the rocket on top. Finish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil