Pasta and Bacon in Smoky Tomato Sauce

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bacon-tomato-pasta-0911med107344.jpg
Photo: John Kernick
Prep Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
45 mins
Servings:
4

Smoked paprika and bacon lend loads of flavor to this easy pasta dish.

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces

  • ½ yellow onion, diced small

  • 1 can (28 ounces) whole peeled tomatoes, pureed

  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika

  • Coarse salt and ground pepper

  • ¾ pound short, twisted pasta, such as cavatappi or fusilli

  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions

  1. In a medium saucepan, cook bacon over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, 8 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a plate. Add onion to pan and cook until softened, 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and paprika and bring to a boil; reduce to a rapid simmer and cook until sauce has thickened slightly, 10 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta. Return pasta to pot and add tomato sauce; toss to combine, adding enough pasta water to create a thin sauce that coats pasta. Add bacon and parsley, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.

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