This pasta dish boasts a delightful combination of bacon, arugula, and corn, successfully transferring the BLT sandwich into a pasta dish. The inclusion of corn brings in a delightful sweetness and the addition of freshly chopped tomatoes provides a tangy kick.
Cook penne pasta in a large pot of boiling salty water, according to package directions.
2
While the pasta cooks, fry the bacon slices in a large pan until crispy.
3
Reserve 3 tablespoons of bacon drippings in the pan and place the crispy bacon on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cooled, crumble the bacon.
4
In the pan with the reserved drippings, sauté the chopped red onion, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt, until the onion has softened.
5
Add in the softened chopped tomatoes and let it simmer for 12-15 minutes.
6
Stir in the heavy cream and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
7
Drain the penne pasta and add to the pan along with the arugula, crumbled bacon, charred corn, and chopped fresh basil. Toss everything together gently.
8
If needed, add a ladleful of the pasta cooking water to loosen up the sauce.
9
Serve your completed dish with a generous topping of grated Parmesan cheese.