Fettucini Mio Amore is an Italian pasta dish that highlights fettuccine noodles with bacon and onions to make a unique and exciting tomato pasta sauce.
1poundSmoked baconcut crosswise into ¼ inch strips
1bay leaf
¾cupdry white wine
1teaspoonoregano
1teaspoonred pepper flakes
¾cupcrushed tomatoesor tomato sauce
½cupchicken broth
½cupParmesan Cheesegrates
8ouncesFettucini noodlesdry or fresh
Instructions
In a reasonably deep saucepan, cook the onions in the olive oil until soft and translucent, then set the onions aside. If your pan is large enough, move them to the side, or completely remove them from the pan.
In the same pan, fry the bacon with the bay leaf until the bacon has rendered it's fat, is brown but not crisp.
Pour off most, but not all of the bacon fat. Add back the onions, the white wine, and let simmer for a few minutes.
In the meantime, cook the fettuccine noodles according to package directions. Once cooked, drain reserving about ½ cup of the starchy pasta water.
Add the tomato sauce, chicken broth, oregano and pepper flakes, stir and let simmer another ten minutes. (Add a little more chicken broth, or better yet, some of the starchy pasta water, as necessary, if the sauce is drying out.)
Toss about ¼ of the sauce with the fettuccine and parmesan, divide the pasta on the plates, then spoon the rest of the sauce on top of the pasta. Sprinkle with more grated parmesan and serve.
Notes
Tips for Success
Bacon Bits: Do not try to make this dish with purchased bacon bits. You need the bacon fat for that extra flavor that makes this pasta recipe so delicious. And purchase thick cut bacon. You'll love that thicker texture when you dig into this meal.
Fresh Parmesan: Buy the best wedge of Parmesan style cheese that you can afford and grate the cheese yourself. Tubs of pre-grated parmesan will fall short in flavor and texture.
Red Pepper Flakes: This recipe calls for using 1 whole teaspoon red pepper flakes, which makes for a spicy pasta dish. Use ½ teaspoon for a milder experience.