Savory Sun-Dried Tomato
Bacon Pasta
Elevate your weeknight dinner with this savory spaghetti tossed with crispy bacon and tangy sun-dried tomatoes in a rich, herb-infused olive oil sauce.
The magic of this pasta lies in its perfectly balanced flavor profile. The sun-dried tomatoes have been slow-roasted and soaked in oil, reducing their moisture to concentrate their fruit acids and natural sugars. This vibrant tang effortlessly cuts through the richness of the bacon fat, bringing a refreshing, caramelized twist to every bite.
Ingredients
- 300 g dry spaghetti pasta
- 200 g thick-cut bacon
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil
- to taste freshly ground black pepper
- to taste sea salt
- optional garlic parsley seasoning salt
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- 1Cut the bacon into strips
Cut the raw bacon into thick strips on a wooden cutting board and set them aside. Having the bacon prepared in advance ensures a smooth cooking process when its time to start rendering the fat.
Tip: Using cold bacon directly from the refrigerator makes it much easier to slice cleanly into even strips. - 2Mince the garlic
Take two peeled cloves of garlic and mince them into small pieces on your cutting board. This garlic will be used to build aromatic depth in the pasta dish once the bacon has finished rendering.
Tip: Crushing the garlic cloves with the flat side of your knife first makes mincing much faster and helps release more of the essential oils. - 3Boil the pasta
Bring a pot of salted water to a rapid boil, then use tongs to submerge the dry pasta completely into the water. Boil the pasta according to the package instructions until it reaches a tender but firm texture.
Tip: Always salt your pasta water generously so it lightly tastes of the sea; this is your only opportunity to flavor the pasta noodles directly. - 4Add the sun-dried tomato oil
Pour some of the olive oil directly from the sun-dried tomatoes jar into a pan. This oil is already packed with the rich flavors of rosemary and other mixed herbs, adding a complex flavor profile to the base of the dish.
Tip: Using the infused oil from the jar is a great way to maximize flavor without needing to add extra dried herbs, and it prevents the delicious oil from going to waste. - 5Pan-fry the bacon
Place the raw bacon strips into the skillet with the herb-infused oil over medium-low heat. Let the bacon pan-fry slowly so it renders out its rich fat and gradually becomes perfectly crispy.
Tip: Cooking the bacon slowly on medium-low heat allows the fat to render completely without burning the meat. - 6Sauté the garlic
Once the bacon has released its fat and turned crispy, add the minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté everything together just until the garlic becomes highly fragrant.
Tip: Keep a close eye on the pan once the garlic is added; it can burn very quickly in the hot bacon fat, which will create a bitter taste. - 7Add the sun-dried tomatoes
Add the star ingredient: the sun-dried tomatoes, along with a little extra infused oil from the jar if needed. These slow-roasted tomatoes help cut through the richness of the bacon fat, bringing a refreshing twist and a hint of caramelization to the dish without redundantly overpowering the aromatics youve already built.
Tip: Using the infused oil from the sun-dried tomato jar is an excellent trick to build complex flavor without needing extra ingredients. - 8Add the cooked pasta
Once the pasta is cooked, use tongs to transfer the spaghetti directly from the boiling salted water into the skillet with the bacon, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes.
Tip: Moving the pasta directly from the water rather than draining it in a colander helps retain the heat and brings along a little starchy water to start building the sauce. - 9Toss to combine
Use your tongs to thoroughly toss the spaghetti with the savory ingredients. Ensure the noodles are evenly coated with the rich oil, crispy bacon bits, and sun-dried tomatoes.
Tip: Use silicone-tipped tongs to easily toss the pasta without scratching the surface of your non-stick skillet. - 10Incorporate pasta water
Add a ladle of the starchy pasta boiling water directly into the skillet. This essential step helps emulsify the oils and bacon fat into a cohesive, silky sauce that thoroughly coats the pasta.
Tip: The starches in the pasta water bind the fats and liquids together, preventing the final dish from feeling greasy. - 11Season the pasta
Season the dish generously with freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of sea salt. Toss everything together a few more times to evenly distribute the seasoning throughout the noodles.
Tip: Always taste the pasta before adding too much salt, as the bacon and salted pasta water already contribute significant savoriness to the dish. - 12Plate and serve
Transfer the hot pasta and all the pan ingredients onto a serving plate. To finish the dish, sprinkle with a little garlic parsley salt and drizzle a bit more olive oil over the top to enhance the flavor.
Tip: Use your tongs to twist the pasta as you place it onto the plate to create an elegant, tall nest of spaghetti. - 13Season the finished pasta
Once the pasta is plated, gently sprinkle garlic parsley seasoning salt over the top to enhance the aromatic profile of the dish. This final seasoning adds a savory, herbaceous finish that complements the richness of the bacon and the tang of the sun-dried tomatoes.
Tip: If you dont have a pre-mixed garlic parsley salt, you can easily make your own by mixing dried parsley, garlic powder, and fine sea salt. - 14Drizzle with olive oil
As a final touch, drizzle a small spoonful of high-quality olive oil over the plated pasta. This adds a beautiful sheen and a subtle, fruity depth that ties all the flavors of the dish together before serving.
Tip: Use your best extra virgin olive oil for this final garnish to get the most flavor.
