Smoky Tomato Bacon Pasta Recipes

BACON PASTA WITH CHEESE SAUCE AND THYME

Steps:

• Cook bacon, onion, and garlic in a large straight-sided skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bacon is browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in chopped thyme. Remove from heat.
• Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, about 2 minutes less than according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 2 cups pasta water.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan.Whisk in flour; cook until melted and smooth, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk and 1/2 cup pasta water until smooth. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and whisk in cheeses.
• Return skillet to medium-high heat; add 1/2 cup pasta water and cook, scraping up browned bits, 1 to 2 minutes. Add cooked spaghetti and cheese sauce. Stir, adding remaining pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time, until sauce is creamy and evenly coats pasta. Taste and season as needed. Serve, sprinkled with pepper and thyme leaves.

FETTUCCINE WITH SMOKED TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat. Place a cooling rack over indirect heat. Place a heavy-bottomed saucepot over direct heat.
• Slice the tomatoes in half. Drizzle them with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the tomatoes on the cooling rack on the grill, cut-side down, to soften and take on some smoke while you make the sauce, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add a drizzle of olive oil to the saucepot along with the bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally until the bacon is crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, onions and crushed red pepper flakes if using and cook until the onions soften, an additional few minutes. Add the wine. Tie the fresh herbs together with a piece of butcher's twine and add to the saucepot.
• When your tomatoes have begun to soften, remove them from the grill. Remove the skins (they will come off really easy), add the tomatoes to the saucepot and season with salt and pepper. Close the grill and continue to cook the sauce until the tomatoes fully break down and the sauce thickens slightly, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta 2 minutes less than the package directions. Using tongs, pull the pasta out and add it directly to the tomato sauce, along with 1/3 cup of the starchy pasta water. Mix to combine. The sauce will stick to the pasta. Remove the saucepot from the heat.
• Add the butter and a drizzle of olive oil to the pasta and stir to combine. Add the basil and and stir again. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan over top.
• (Alternatively, you can cook the sauce and pasta over medium-high heat on a stovetop.)

SMOKY TOMATO CARBONARA

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine eggs and egg yolks, cheese, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and whisk well.
• Heat a large skillet over medium. Add bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to crisp, about 5 minutes. Pour off all but 3 tablespoons bacon grease (reserve any extra for another use). Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, until sizzling and starting to brown, about 1 minute. Add cherry tomatoes and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until softened and juices start to release, about 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
• Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Return pasta to pot (off the heat) and add the bacon-tomato mixture. (If necessary, use 2 tablespoons of pasta water to stir up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet.)
• While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle 1/2 cup of the hot pasta water into the beaten egg mixture until well blended. Slowly drizzle the tempered egg mixture into the pasta, tossing the pasta constantly and vigorously, until well incorporated and saucy. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle in more pasta water if a thinner consistency is desired.
• Serve in bowls with more cheese and black pepper.