Pasta Amatriciana

This Italian pasta sauce is a meal in and of itself, especially great for bacon lovers!

Ingredients

• 4 oz. pancetta, diced small

• 1 medium red onion

• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

• 28 oz can whole peeled Italian tomatoes, crushed

• 2 tsp garlic, minced

• 2 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated

• Salt, to taste

• Pepper, to taste

• Olive Oil

• 1 lb. Pasta of choice

Directions

In a large skillet, add pancetta and cook over medium heat. Cook until slightly browned, and then remove from pan.

Using the oil from the cooked pancetta(you may need to add a bit more oil if needed), add onion and sauté until golden, about 10 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute.

Pour in crushed tomatoes and return pancetta to pan, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile in a separate pot, cook pasta according to package "al dente" directions.

Add parmesan cheese to sauce and simmer another two minutes.

Serve immediately, topped with a drizzle of olive oil and more parmesan cheese.

Make it Vegetarian! Substitute pancetta for Morning Star soy bacon. Skip cooking the bacon in the pan and simply add 3 pieces of thawed soy bacon, cut up, to sauce and cook to combine.