Cherry Tomato Pancetta And Basil Sauce For Pasta Recipes

PASTA WITH PANCETTA AND TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Add the pancetta to a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and saute until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Add the onion and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomato puree. Simmer uncovered over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors blend, about 15 minutes. Season the sauce with salt, to taste.
• Meanwhile, boil the linguine in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Toss the linguine with the sauce in the skillet, adding some of the reserved cooking liquid until the pasta is moist but being careful not to dilute the sauce. Toss with the cheese. Season with salt, to taste.

TOMATO-BASIL-PANCETTA PASTA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta with some salt 'al dente' according to its package instructions and drain, wash with cold water.
• Prepare the vegetables: half the cherry tomatoes, slice the mushrooms, and shredd the basil (you can be a bit more liberal with the amount if you want). Last, chop the garlic-clove.
• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, and add the pancetta. Stir on medium heat for about a minute until the pancetta gets crisp. Turn the heat down and add the garlic. Toss it for another minute, until slightly 'fried'*.
• Add the tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes, frequently turning them around. Now, add half of the port and cook further for 2 minutes until almost all the [port] liquid has evaporated.
• Turn the heat back to medium-heat and add the mushrooms and black pepper. Stir around the vegetables for 1 minute, and add the remaining port. Let the liquid evaporate slightly, after which you add the shredded basil.
• Cook for 2 more minutes until the basil has shrunk. At this stage, the vegetables should still be 'pooling' in a bit of liquid, which you do need to add flavor the pasta.
• Add the pasta and turn down the heat. Stir around for 2-3 minutes, to absorb [most of ] the sauce.
• Done! Serve in nice pasta bowls with some Parmesan/Pecorino cheese [if desired].

LINGUINE WITH PANCETTA AND SAUTEED CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook linguine in pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain, reserving 1 cup liquid. Return pasta to pot.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; stir 30 seconds. Add pancetta and crushed red pepper; sauté until pancetta is crisp, about 4 minutes. Add tomatoes; sauté until soft, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer tomato mixture to pot with pasta. Add 3/4 cup cheese and 1/3 cup basil. Toss over medium heat until cheese melts and sauce coats pasta, adding cooking liquid by 1/4 cupfuls if dry. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl. Sprinkle with basil. Serve remaining cheese alongside.