Tonight I made one of these recipes, for the first time in 3 years! The last time I made this recipe was, in fact, on my honeymoon. (I can't quite get over the fact I've been married for three years already!)
View from our window on honeymoon
There was actually some logic behind not making this recipe anymore, because frankly I don't think you can do this recipe justice using ingredients from this country, but it still tastes pretty amazing! It does take a bit of time to prep though, but I think it's worth it, it's such a lovely summery dish. Much, much better than bought sauces (or tinned tomatoes, honest!)
Eating this recipe on Honeymoon
Ingredients
Serves 2
400-500g Cherry Tomatoes (works best with a variety of different ripeness and colours)
1 packet of pancetta diced (or 6 rashers of normal or smoked bacon, I have tried all and they are all good!)
1 Knob of butter
1 Onion
2 Garlic Cloves
200g Pasta (Orecchiette works well but is hard to find, so any of your favourite pasta will work)
Fresh Oregano (again often hard to find in supermarkets, parsley is nice too)
Fresh Parmesan (I left this out today, as I am on a diet!)
Salt and Pepper for seasoning.
Put all the tomatoes in a bowl and blanch them in boiling water, this is to make it easier to get the skin off the tomato (often the skin won't spilt so while they are in the boiling water I prick them with a sharp knife which makes them split)
Drain the tomatoes, then skin them and cut each tomato in half and take out the seeds, then roughly chop the flesh.
Melt butter in a frying pan and fry the pancetta (or bacon) until golden. Add the onion and garlic and fry for roughly 5 mins (or until the onion is transparent)
Check the cooking time for the chosen pasta and bring a saucepan of water to the boil.
Add the tomato flesh to the pan of pancetta and onion (not the boiling water - it won't taste good!), season with salt and pepper, lower the heat and simmer for about 10 mins.
Add your pasta to your now boiling saucepan and cook til ready
When the pasta is ready drain and serve, spoon over tomato sauce and garnish with oregano (or parsley) and parmesan (if using).
While making this tonight all could think about was Italy :) oh how I wish I was back in Umbria! We stayed at Casa San Gabriel which I would highly recommend. As soon as I am no longer a poor student I will be saving up to go back.
As I'm sharing this recipe (the first of many probably!) I thought I would share some photo's too!
The Beauty and the Beast style wardrobe that is actually the cutest little kitchen.
Gorgeous view of Chrissie and David's house and one of the villa's.
