Stewed Tomatoes, Pancetta, and Pappardelle Pasta
Savory, spicy, and creamy, this Stewed Tomatoes, Pancetta, and Pappardelle Pasta is truly outstanding! This Pancetta Pasta dish uses the crème de la crème of canned tomatoes – San Marzano Tomatoes, as well as salty pancetta, and a touch of cream to create a truly exquisite sauce.
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340g) Pappardelle Pasta
- 1 cup Reserved Pasta Water
- 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 6 oz (170g) Pancetta, cubed small
- 8 Whole San Marzano Tomatoes, from a can
- 2-4 Dried Chilies, crumbled
- 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
- 2/3 cup Grated Parmigano Reggiano
- Salt & Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prep the tomatoes by removing them from the can, and squeezing them to remove most of their inner juices, leaving behind the flesh. Discard the juices and roughly chop the tomato fleshes, then set aside for later.
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil, then turn to medium-high heat. Add pasta into the pot and cook according to box time. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta.
- Meanwhile, in a large frying pan add butter and melt over medium heat. Add pancetta and crumbled chilies, fry for about 5-6 minutes, or until the pancetta is golden in color. Add the chopped tomatoes to the pan, mix well to combine, and cook for another 5-6 minutes, stirring often. The tomatoes are finished when they begin to caramelize. Stir in the cream, and cook for another 3-4 minutes, or until the sauce looks uniform and begins to thicken. (Sauce time = 15 minutes)
- Add cooked pasta to the pan, and toss to combine with the sauce. Sprinkle the cheese over top of the pasta, and toss to combine. Add just enough pasta water, in small additions, until the sauce looks smooth and glossy, and coats the noodles well. Serve with extra shredded parmesan.
Notes
When making pasta, you must always determine if you should start the sauce first, start the pasta first, or start them simultaneously - depending on the cooking time of the pasta according to the box.
The goal is to have the pasta and the sauce to finish at the same time.