Turkey Bacon and Tomato Pasta
Turkey Bacon and Tomato Pasta
Ingredients:
½ lb. turkey bacon (small chop)
1 large onion (fine chop)
15 oz can of tomatoes
2 tbs Pecorino Romano Cheese (freshly grated)
3 tbs Parmesan Reggiano (freshly grated)
5 basil leaves (torn or roughly chopped)
1 lb. dried pasta (store bought or homemade)
Seasoning:
Salt/Pepper
½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
3 tbs olive oil
½ tsp oregano
½ tsp basil
½ tsp thyme
½ tsp rosemary
(last 4 spices can be substituted with 2 tsp of good Italian Seasoning Mix)
Instructions:
Heat olive oil in a deep skillet and fry the onion and turkey bacon together until both get caramelized and golden brown. Turn down the heat to low medium and add canned tomatoes and all the seasonings. Taste and add more salt and pepper as needed. Partially cover with a lid and let simmer for 30 minutes, checking and mixing the sauce every 10min. While the sauce is simmering place a large pot of water to boil and add 1.5 tbs of salt to it. Once the sauce is ready and the water in the pot is boiling, add your dried pasta to the boiling water, stir and bring back to a boil. Undercook your pasta by just a few minutes, drain the pasta water reserving 4 cups. Transfer it to the deep skillet with the sauce, turn up the heat and stir the pasta in the sauce until it tastes done. You can add pasta water, half a cup at a time as you stir, if the sauce is starting to stick to the bottom of the skillet. In the end, the sauce will be ambient but not runny. Add both cheeses and basil, mix well, transfer to the serving dish and enjoy!
Health Benefits:
Turkey bacon and tomato pasta is a wonderful marriage of flavor and nutrition. Turkey bacon is a healthier alternative to traditional pork bacon, as it tends to be lower in saturated fat and calories. This pasta recipe also benefits from the inclusion of tomatoes, which are packed with antioxidants, known for their potential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. The combination of lean protein from turkey bacon and the vitamins and minerals from tomatoes makes this dish not only delicious but also a nourishing option for a balanced meal. If you have active kids who play sports, this will be their staple meal supplying them with sustainable energy from the combination of carbohydrates and protein.
