Asparagus and pancetta (or bacon) pasta

It’s November and the height of asparagus season, so for many of us we really indulge eating and enjoying asparagus until, maybe, we’ve overdone eating asparagus until next spring!

If you don’t enjoy asparagus, please don’t read on! If you do and you like the idea of a “think about it to start eating” in 15 minutes (legit 15 mins unlike some of Jamie Oliver’s 15 min meals!), this is a very tasty dinner or lunch for asparagus lovers. If you are vegetarian, it still makes a great meal without the bacon/pancetta with the combo of asparagus, parmesan and olive oil

Here we go

Ingredients

 125 gms spaghetti. I’ve used spaghetti but you could use other past such as linguini– about quarter of a 500 gm packet, but don’t be too fussy!

80-100 gms of flat pancetta – you can buy this at some New World stores or from Farro Fresh.  You can use streaky bacon as a substitute or about a third of a packet of Ghiotti Chorizo Extra salami which has a very “punchy” flavour. You can get this from most supermarkets 9 see image below)

2 bunches asparagus – up to you whether you prefer thin or fat asparagus. My preference is somewhere in between

Olive oil

100 gms or more of shaved parmesan

Cooking instructions

1. Bring a pot of water to the boil and cook the pasta as per the packet instructions (about 8-11 mins)
2. Cut the pancetta into lots of strips about 4cms long
3. In a non-stick frypan, drop a small amount of olive oil and on low-med heat, gently fry the pancetta until crispy– it should take about 2 mins. Remove and place on some handee towel. Keep approx. half the pancetta oil
4. Trim the asparagus and discard the ends. Cut what is left in half
5. Add the asparagus into the pan and sauté for around 5-6 minutes on a medium heat turning occasionally until cooked
6. Return the pancetta/bacon and gently mix together for a minute or so
7. When the pasta is cooked, drain and add to the pan with the asparagus and pancetta. Gently mix
8. Throw in a swig of olive oil and half the shaved parmesan on the top of your dish – put the rest of the parmesan on the dining table with some cracked pepper
9. Serve from the pan…or put in serving dish

Too easy!

Serves 2