Since I started working full-time, it has been hard to keep myself motivated when it comes to preparing a healthy, tasty meal for the family. Truthfully, most days I get home and want to instruct everyone to "fix something yourself," or ask, "how about Ramen noodles...again?" When I had more time on my hands, I was very creative and daring when it came to trying new things. But nowadays, I could care less about cooking new meals. How sad is that? I need to just get over it, and provide my loving family the good, nutritious food they deserve to be fed.
Some of the recipes I plan on sharing are tried and true old family recipes, while others are ones I've snagged off of the Food Network, etc. In all fairness, one thing I'm NOT good at, is creating my own recipes!
So here is recipe #1 in the list of my family's favorites:
Pasta with Pancetta and Tomato Sauce
Yield: 6 servings
6 ounces pancetta, diced (you can find pancetta at most markets in the deli meat section)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped (I like sweet onions)
salt
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1 (28 oz.) can tomato puree
1 pound linguine
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano (or your favorite Italian cheese)
Add the pancetta to a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and sauté until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Add the onion and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt.
Add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté 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.
Enjoy!
5 comments:
What exactly is pancetta? Please educate me, oh wise sister!
Pancetta is Italian bacon. It's cured in salt and spices and then air-dried. Now you know!!
Pancetta is essentially Italian bacon. It comes in a cylindrical "chunk" that they can slice thickly for you at the deli. I'm not sure where you can get it there in town, but I know Rhonda has purchased it before. It's yummy.
Is it similar to prosciutto?
It's very similar, but while pancetta is considered Italian bacon, prosciutto is considered Italian ham.
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