How to make Spaghetti with Garlic, Pepper, and Bacon

Spaghetti with Garlic, Pepper, and Bacon, a dish that marries the rustic charm of Italian countryside flavors with a spirited kick, invites you to indulge in its robust symphony of taste. At Italy Today Restaurant, your culinary portal located at italytodayrestaurant.com, we celebrate the essence of Italian cuisine by bringing time-honored recipes straight into your home kitchen.

From the heart of Italy’s rich gastronomic landscape, I, as the head chef, am thrilled to guide you through a recipe that is both deeply rooted in tradition and sprightly in its execution. It’s a narrative woven through with bold garlic notes, the warmth of freshly cracked pepper, and the indulgent savoriness of bacon.

Picture a plate of steaming spaghetti, each strand glossed with a golden sheen of olive oil and flecked with bits of crispy bacon. The garlic, lightly sautéed to a gentle gold, infuses the pasta with its unmistakable pungency, softened by the bacon’s richness and grounded by the earthy crackle of black pepper.

This dish is a testament to the power of simplicity. In true Italian style, it allows the high-quality, few ingredients to speak for themselves, each element shining without overshadowing the others. This Spaghetti with Garlic, Pepper, and Bacon is more than a meal; it’s an expression of the simple yet profound joys of Italian cooking.

Whether you’re preparing a family dinner or looking to impress guests, this dish promises to deliver both comfort and character. For a thorough walkthrough on crafting this enticing entree, join us at italytodayrestaurant.com, where passion and authenticity are the core ingredients in every recipe we share.

Buon appetito! Let this dish spark your culinary curiosity and bring a generous dash of Italian flair to your table, inviting you to savor each flavorful forkful as a celebration of life’s simple yet exquisite pleasures.

Spaghetti with Garlic, Pepper, and Bacon Recipe

SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC, PEPPER AND BACON

The dish "Spaghetti with Garlic, Pepper, and Bacon" is a culinary gem that highlights the rustic allure of Italian country flavors energized with a peppery spark. The dish combines the smokiness of bacon with the vibrant kick of freshly cracked pepper and the rich pungency of golden garlic, all married together with olive oil's golden sheen, coating each strand of spaghetti.

This delicious entree is described as a narrative that unfolds across your taste buds – from the crispy bits of bacon that add texture and savoriness to the lightly sautéed garlic which infuses the pasta with its distinct aroma. Topped off with a hearty crackle of black pepper, the dish delivers a robust symphony of savory pleasures that celebrate the power of simplicity in Italian cooking.

The head chef at Italy Today Restaurant, which you can visit at italytodayrestaurant.com, shares this recipe with a promise of guiding you through a flavorful journey. Through expert hands, the dish reveals itself as more than just a meal; it's a heartwarming expression of Italian life’s simple yet profound joys, designed to comfort and impress anyone who takes a bite.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Pasta

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4 people

Calories 595 kcal

Equipment

• 1 pan

Ingredients

  

• 300 g 10 oz spaghetti
• 200 g 7 oz bacon
• 2-3 garlic cloves
• 1 small red pepper
• 2 bunches of parsley
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 40 g 1.5 oz grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

 

• Boil water and cook spaghetti according to the instructions on the package. Drain spaghetti.
• Wash, dry and chop the parsley. Peel and chop the garlic. Cut the pepper in half and remove seeds if you do not like it to be too spicy. Finely chop the pepper.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a pan. Add the bacon, the chopped parsley, garlic and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes while stirring. Add salt.
• Add the mixture to spaghetti and mix well.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.

Video

Keyword bacon, pepper, spaghetti

How to cook Spaghetti with Garlic, Pepper, and Bacon using oven

• Preheat the Oven: Warm your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) for roasting the garlic or crisping the bacon.
• Prepare the Bacon: Lay out bacon slices on a lined baking sheet. Place in the preheated oven and cook until crispy, usually about 15-20 minutes depending on thickness. Once done, remove from the oven and chop into pieces.
• Roast the Garlic: Separately, you could roast whole garlic cloves for a deeper, sweeter flavor. Wrap them in foil with a drizzle of olive oil and roast in the oven until soft and golden.
• Cook the Spaghetti: On the stovetop, cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve some pasta water for adjusting sauce consistency later.
• Prepare the Pepper Oil: While the bacon and garlic are in the oven, heat olive oil and freshly cracked black pepper in an oven-safe dish to infuse the oil with the flavor of the pepper. This can be placed in the oven for a short time as well, but keep the temperature low to avoid overheating the oil.
• Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the pasta with the crispy bacon, roasted garlic (mashed into a paste), and pepper-infused oil. Toss together to let the pasta absorb the flavors. Add pasta water if needed for moisture.

Tips for making about Spaghetti with Garlic, Pepper, and Bacon

Cooking Tips

• Select Quality Ingredients: Choose high-quality spaghetti, fresh garlic, freshly ground black pepper, and artisanal bacon. The few ingredients used in this dish mean that the quality will significantly impact the overall taste.
• Get the Bacon Right: Cook the bacon to your desired level of crispiness. A slight chewiness can offer a nice textural contrast to the pasta if preferred.
• Manage Garlic Heat: Lightly sauté the garlic to a gentle golden color to avoid bitterness. Don’t burn it – this will infuse the oil with a soft and mellow garlic flavor without overpowering the dish.
• Reserve Pasta Water: Always save some of the pasta cooking water. Its starchy goodness is perfect for adjusting the consistency of your sauce, helping it cling to the pasta beautifully.
• Toasting Pepper: Briefly toast the cracked pepper in a dry pan or in olive oil to release its essential oils and enhance its aroma before adding it to the dish.
• Perfect Al Dente Pasta: Cook the spaghetti until al dente. The firm texture will hold up better when tossed with the olive oil and other ingredients.
• Tossing Technique: Toss the pasta with the garlic, bacon, and pepper, adding a bit of the reserved pasta water if needed, to evenly distribute flavors and create a light sauce that coats each strand of spaghetti.
• Finishing Touches: To serve, garnish with additional cracked pepper, freshly grated hard cheese such as Parmesan, and perhaps a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil for added richness.
• Serving Warm: This dish is best served immediately while warm, so time your cooking accordingly to maximize the enjoyment of those who partake.

Serving suggestions

• Plating with Elegance: Plate the pasta on warm dishes to preserve the temperature and showcase the glossy sheen of the olive oil coating each strand. Use tongs to twirl the spaghetti into a nest in the center of the plate, creating an inviting mound topped with the bacon and garlic.
• Garnish Generously: Sprinkle extra freshly cracked black pepper over the top for added spice and a visual contrast. You can also add a garnish of fresh parsley or basil for a pop of color and an aromatic touch that complements the dish’s robust flavors.
• Extra Olive Oil: Offer a small bowl or cruet of high-quality extra virgin olive oil on the table so guests can drizzle a little more on their portion if they wish. This can intensify the flavor and add a luxurious finish to the dish.
• Toasted Breadcrumbs: For an additional layer of texture, sprinkle some toasted breadcrumbs over the pasta just before serving. This adds a pleasant crunch that contrasts nicely with the soft noodles and tender garlic.
• Wine Pairing: Serve with a glass of full-bodied red wine like a Chianti Classico or a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, which stand up well to the bold flavors of garlic and bacon without overwhelming the palate.

Top 5 FAQs about Spaghetti with Garlic, Pepper, and Bacon

• What kind of bacon is best for making Spaghetti with Garlic, Pepper, and Bacon? Select high-quality artisanal bacon that can be baked in the oven until crispy for this dish. The quality and flavor of the bacon will significantly impact the overall taste of the meal.
• How should I prepare the garlic to avoid it overpowering the dish? The garlic should be lightly sautéed to a gentle golden color to avoid bitterness and burning. Roasting whole garlic cloves separately in the oven wrapped in foil with olive oil until soft can also enhance the flavor.
• Can I use pre-ground pepper, or should I grind it fresh? Freshly cracked black pepper is recommended as it will release its essential oils and provide a more robust aroma and flavor. You can briefly toast it in a dry pan or in olive oil before adding it to the dish.
• Is there a particular type of olive oil that works best in this recipe? A high-quality extra virgin olive oil is ideal for infusing with the toasted black pepper and for tossing with the pasta, as it contributes to the flavor profile and glossy finish of the dish.
• Can I include additional toppings when serving this pasta? Absolutely! For finishing touches and serving, you can sprinkle extra cheese, such as Parmesan or Pecorino Romano, and garnish with herbs like parsley or basil. Additionally, you might offer red pepper flakes or extra drizzles of olive oil at the table for personalized customization.

In conclusion, Spaghetti with Garlic, Pepper, and Bacon is an embodiment of Italian culinary excellence, focusing on the pure, unadulterated flavors of fresh, high-quality ingredients that harmonize on a plate. This dish tells a story of the Italian countryside, inviting you to appreciate the simplicity of cooking with a handful of well-chosen components.