Tagliatelle pasta with bacon and pork

INGREDIENTS

2 garlic cloves crushed

2 tablespoons of olive or vegetable oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 celery stick, finely chopped

100g / 3½ oz diced pancetta or streaky bacon

500g / 1lb 2 oz good quality minced pork

200ml / 6fl oz dry white wine

50g / 1½ oz parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

1 large lemon

400g / 14 oz tagliatelle

3 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley

Salt and pepper

PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes
 
COOKING TIME: 1 hour 15 minutes
 
DIFFICULTY: Easy
 
FREEZE: No
 
SERVINGS: 4 servings
 
EQUIPMENT: 2 large pans

PREPARATION

Peel and finely chop the onion.

Finely chop the celery.

Peel and crush the garlic cloves.

Dice the pancetta or streaky bacon.

Grate off the zest of the lemon.

Grate the Parmesan if using solid cheese.

ADVICE FOR PORK AND BACON TAGLIATELLE

Many of our recipes can be adjusted slightly to fit the requirements of your taste buds and we strongly encourage this. This recipe however is one that is best followed exactly, for the first attempt anyway. The flavour taken on by the pork and the bacon and the way it combines with the tagliatelle is delicious.

Do take the advice in the recipe to undercook the tagliatelle at first. When it is combined with the pork and other ingredients it will cook further and you will end up with tagliatelle that has the correct texture.

RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1

Heat the oil in the pan then add the onion, garlic and celery. Sprinkle with a little salt and return to a gentle heat. Let them cook gently without colouring, for about 8-10 minutes, they should sweat rather than fry.

If the ingredients start to fry, just add water, a tablespoon at a time, until the heat is reduced.

Onion, celery and garlic frying

STEP 2

Add the chopped pancetta or bacon then cook for another 6 minutes, adding water if necessary like before. Add the minced pork and turn up the heat. Don't brown the meat too much.

Add the wine and let it evaporate, then season. Add in 200ml / 7 fl oz water, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Mix in a little more water if the mixture gets too dry.

Add bacon, minced pork and wine

STEP 3

While the meat is cooking, put a pan with plenty of water on to boil.

When the water is boiling add the pasta. Place a lid on and bring back to the boil, stir well then reduce the heat so the water simmers. Cook the pasta 2 minutes less than the recommended time on the packet because it will continue to cook when mixed in with the meat.

STEP 4

Drain the pasta in a colander and keep a little of the pasta water. Put the pasta back into the pan with the meat and mix well together over a low heat.

Put in the parmesan and toss well. Add some pasta water to dilute, or extra cheese to absorb excess liquid, and mix again.

Mix in the lemon zest and parsley then dish up immediately, serve with some garlic bread.

Pork and Bacon Tagliatelle