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Half penne with pancetta and herb bread

17/11/2023

I can suggest a recipe for tasty half penne pasta with pancetta and herb bread. Here are the ingredients and procedure to prepare this dish.

Ingredients

  • 350 g of half penne pasta
  • 150 g of diced pancetta
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 200 g of stale bread
  • A bunch of aromatic herbs (basil, parsley, thyme)
  • 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Preparation

  1. Start with preparing the herb bread. Cut the stale bread into cubes and place it in a pan with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and a crushed clove of garlic. Toast over medium heat until the bread cubes become crispy and golden.
  2. In the meantime, wash and finely chop the chosen aromatic herbs.
  3. Once the bread is golden, remove the garlic and add the chopped herbs to the pan, mixing well to adhere them to the bread cubes. Set aside the herb croutons.
  4. In another pan, fry the diced pancetta without adding any fat, until it becomes crispy. If you like, you can add another clove of garlic to further flavor.
  5. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the half penne according to the package instructions to get an al dente texture.
  6. Drain the pasta and preserve a cup of the cooking water.
  7. Remove the pancetta from the heat and once the half penne are drained, pour the pasta into the pan with the pancetta, adding a little of the cooking water to emulsify.
  8. Add the herb bread croutons and mix gently.
  9. Serve immediately, completing with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, freshly ground pepper, and, if you like, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.

Curiosity

This recipe is a great way of recycling stale bread by transforming it into a crunchy element that adds texture to the dish. The pancetta adds a touch of smoky flavor that pairs well with the aromatic herbs and the simplicity of half penne.

If you would like a wine suggestion, you might accompany this dish with a sparkling white wine, such as a Prosecco, which with its liveliness would balance well the richness of the dish.