Penne with Broiled Tomatoes and Spinach
A quick meal where the sweetness of tomatoes and caramelized onions is balanced by the earthy greens of spinach and the saltiness of bacon.
Recipe: Penne with Broiled Tomatoes, Spinach, Onion and Bacon
Summary: A quick pasta dish that uses cherry tomatoes and large leaf spinach.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
- 8 oz Penne
- 2 slices Bacon or pancetta – cut into 1/2 pieces (optional)
- 1 small Onion – halved and thinly sliced
- 2 cloves of Garlic – peeled and thinly sliced
- 18 Cherry Tomatoes
- 4 oz Spinach – large leaf (see notes) torn into pieces
- 2 Tbls Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Grated Parmesan Cheese to top the pasta (see notes)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil for the pasta
- Heat a 12″ saute pan over medium high heat. Add the bacon or pancetta and cook stirring and turning for 3 or 4 minutes or until the bacon is brown and the fat has been rendered out. Pull the bacon pieces from the pan and drain on paper towels.
- Drain the bacon fat from the pan but keep any oil that clings and the browned bits that are stuck on the pan.
- Return the pan to medium heat and add the onion and a light pinch of salt. Cook the onion for 10 minutes, stirring frequently or until light golden brown and caramelized.
- While the onions are cooking, pre-heat your broiler on high and move the rack to the top position. Line a small baking sheet (with edges) with aluminum foil. Put the tomatoes in the pan and add a little olive oil (1/2 Tbl) and toss to coat. Broil the tomatoes for 4 to 5 minutes shaking once or until the have popped and started to brown in spots. (see picture below). Remove from the broiler and leave in pan.
- Note: At this point, you can hold all the ingredients. Turn off the heat under the onions and move off the burner.
- Cook the penne following the package instructions. When the penne is about 3 minutes from being done. Continue below.
- With the onions over medium high heat, add the garlic and saute until fragrant (30 seconds). Add the bacon and ladle of pasta water to the pan and cook stirring for 1 minute. Add the spinach and a pinch or two of red pepper flakes and the penne (which should be almost done) and toss the pan. Stir and toss the pan while the penne finishes cooking and the spinach wilts (1 minute). If the pan gets dry, add a little more pasta water.
- Taste and add salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve in warmed bowls and top with grated parmesan cheese.
Quick Notes
Large Leaf Spinach vs. Baby Spinach. You can use baby spinach but large leaf spinach has more flavor. Tear the large leaf spinach into large pieces to make the dish easier to serve.
Grated Parmesan Cheese – buy a block of good parmesan and microplane grater. Done use the stuff in the green tube from the grocery store. Really.
Variations
You can quarter whole large tomatoes, toss with olive oil and place on the sheet pan, skin side up, and broil instead of small tomatoes.
Cooking time (duration): 30
Number of servings (yield): 2
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