Garlic Bacon Pasta
Chili
A bold, savory pasta dish featuring crispy bacon, aromatic garlic, and a spicy kick of dried chili. Simple, fast, and packed with flavor.
This garlic bacon pasta is a masterclass in how a few quality ingredients can transform into a satisfying meal. The rendered bacon fat acts as the perfect vehicle for the garlic and dried chili to infuse the noodles with deep, savory, and spicy notes. It is a reliable, quick-to-prepare favorite for busy weeknights when you crave something indulgent yet straightforward.
Ingredients
- 200 g spaghetti
- 100 g bacon
- 3 cloves garlic
- 5 g dried chili peppers
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
Instructions
- 1Fry the bacon
Place the bacon strips into a hot pan and fry until they reach your desired level of crispness. This renders the fat, which will serve as the flavorful base for the rest of the sauce.
Tip: Keep an eye on the heat to avoid burning the bacon; you want it rendered and golden. - 2Sauté aromatics
Add the minced garlic and dried chili peppers into the pan with the crispy bacon. Sauté briefly until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden, ensuring not to burn it.
Tip: Garlic burns quickly, so add it only after the bacon has rendered enough fat and stir constantly. - 3Add the pasta
Transfer the boiled pasta directly into the pan with the fried bacon, minced garlic, and dried chili peppers. Keep the heat on medium.
Tip: Keep a little bit of the pasta water to add to the pan if the mixture seems too dry when tossing. - 4Toss and emulsify
Toss everything together vigorously over medium heat so the noodles absorb the infused oils and the ingredients are evenly distributed. Add a splash of pasta water if needed to bind the sauce into a light, glossy coating.
Tip: If the pasta mixture looks too dry, pour in a small splash of the reserved starchy pasta cooking water while tossing to help bind the oils into a light, glossy coating.
