Pasta with Garlic Breadcrumbs (Pasta con pangrattato)
This dish is simplicity at its finest. If you follow my blog at all you know how much I love recipes that consist of only a few ingredients. Being the horrible multitasker that I am I need to have each and every ingredient prepared and right in front of me (and sometimes I put them in order of when I use them) before I start cooking or baking otherwise I will forget something. This is especially true when I bake. I have been known to forget key ingredients like eggs and milk in a cake. I know. It’s pathetic! I blame it on the fact that I typically make vegan cakes that don’t require eggs and milk, but that’s not actually the truth. I just get going and grab what’s in front of me – and if the eggs and milk aren’t in front of me, they ain’t goin’ in the cake. Oops.
This recipe comes from a fellow foodie, and when I saw how simple the recipe is to prepare I leaped at the chance to make it.
I think what really makes this meal stand out is the homemade breadcrumbs. They only take minutes to make and really add depth to the pasta. This classic Italian dish is a good reminder that less is more. Recipes consisting of too many ingredients can get awfully expensive, and quite honestly I end up with far more dishes in the sink than I would prefer. Stick with simplicity. It never fails us. Bearing that in mind, I really wish that I had doubled the recipe so I could share it with my friends and family. This is definitely one to show off. Bookmark it, friends! This one is a keeper.
Pasta with Garlic Breadcrumbs
Source: Minimally adapted from Las Vegas Food Adventures
Serves 6
Ingredients:
1/2 cup olive oil
2 cups fresh homemade breadcrumbs
2 large garlic cloves, very finely minced
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
4 slices bacon, cooked, drained, and chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound pasta, such as spaghetti, linguine or capellini
Directions:
Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and sauté until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté another minute or two. Remove from heat; add the cheese, parsley, bacon pieces, salt and pepper. Stir well to combine.
Cook the pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain and add to pan with breadcrumbs. Toss over low heat until pasta is coated. Serve immediately with additional Parmesan cheese.
