Buccatini with Squid & Bacon

The richness of the bacon and the tenderness of the squid in this dish go well with the buccatini pasta to make a filling meal. Both the white wine and the cherry tomatoes make the dish taste brighter and fuller.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb buccatini pasta
• 1 lb cleaned squid, sliced into rings
• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

Instructions:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil

Cook the buccatini according to package instructions until al dente

Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat

Add chopped bacon and cook until crispy

Remove bacon from skillet and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the pan

In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sliced squid

Cook for 2-3 minutes until squid is opaque and tender

Deglaze the skillet with white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan

Add cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for another 2 minutes, until slightly softened

Return the cooked bacon to the skillet, along with the cooked buccatini

Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to create a sauce

Season with salt and pepper to taste

Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley