464. CAVATELLI with BACON and ARUGULA

Serves 4


1/4 pound sliced bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
1 onion, chopped
1 3/4 cups crushed canned tomatoes (one 15-ounce can)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1 pound frozen cavatelli
1 1/4 cups arugula, stems removed, leaves torn in half (one 2-ounce bunch)
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

In a large stainless-steel frying pan, cook the bacon over moderate heat until almost crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the pan.

Reduce the heat to moderately low. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juice, the salt, and the pepper and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the cavatelli until just done, about 10 minutes. Drain and toss with the sauce, bacon, arugula, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan. Stir until the arugula just wilts. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the top.


courtesy of: "Quick from Scratch - One Dish Meals" / Food & Wine