Classic Tomato Bacon Fusilli
A simple and comforting Italian-inspired pasta dish featuring corkscrew fusilli tossed in a savory tomato sauce with crispy bacon and fragrant garlic.
Tomato bacon fusilli is the ultimate weeknight comfort food, balancing the salty, savory crunch of rendered bacon with the bright acidity of tomatoes. By using fusilli, every twist of the pasta captures the robust sauce perfectly. It is a straightforward, satisfying dish that highlights how a few quality pantry staples can create a restaurant-style meal at home.
Ingredients
- 400 g fusilli pasta
- 150 g bacon
- 400 g canned crushed tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 1 sprig fresh mint
Instructions
- 1Prepare the pasta water
Bring a pot of water to a boil, then add salt and a splash of olive oil. The oil helps prevent the pasta from sticking together during cooking.
Tip: Ensure the water is at a rolling boil before adding the pasta to ensure even cooking. - 2Cook the fusilli
Gently pour the dry fusilli pasta into the boiling water. Cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente.
Tip: Stir the pasta immediately after adding to the water to keep the pieces separate. - 3Sauté the garlic
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and stir-fry until fragrant and lightly golden.
Tip: Watch the garlic closely to prevent it from burning, which can turn it bitter. - 4Cook the bacon
Add the chopped bacon pieces to the pan with the sautéed garlic. Stir-fry until the bacon is cooked and slightly crispy.
Tip: Rendering the fat from the bacon adds significant flavor to the base of your sauce. - 5Create the tomato sauce
Pour the canned crushed tomatoes into the pan with the bacon and garlic. Stir well to combine all the ingredients and let it simmer.
Tip: Use a wooden spoon to scrape the flavorful brown bits from the bottom of the pan as you stir. - 6Combine pasta and sauce
Add the cooked fusilli pasta to the pan with the tomato and bacon sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated.
Tip: If the sauce is too thick, add a small spoonful of the pasta cooking water to loosen it. - 7Season with black pepper
Once the pasta is combined with the bacon and tomato sauce, freshly grind black pepper over the dish. Stir well to ensure the pepper is evenly distributed and fully integrated into the sauce for a subtle heat.
Tip: Freshly cracked black pepper provides the best aroma and depth of flavor compared to pre-ground pepper.
