Mushroom, Bacon, Tomato and Zucchini Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
• 4 Slices of Lean Smoked Bacon, chopped
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 8 mushrooms, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 grape or cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1.25 cup (300mlml) of chicken stock
• 1 cup (240g) of passata (or use canned crushed tomatoes)
• 2 tablespoon of tomato paste (puree)
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon of dried Basil
• 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
• 1 courgette (zucchini), quartered lengthways and sliced
• 280g (9.9oz) dried pasta of choice (I used penne)
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Add the bacon to frying pan over medium high heat and cook until lightly golden, remove and set aside
2. Heat olive oil in pan and then add the onion and fry until softened.
3. Add in the mushrooms, garlic and about 60ml of the stock and reduce down around the mushrooms and cook until golden. Add in grape tomatoes and cook until slightly softened.
4. Add in the passata, tomato paste, dried herbs, stock and balsamic vinegar.
5. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickens, approx 10-12 mins, add in the courgette (zucchini) for last 5 minutes.
6. Place pasta in a saucepan of hot salted water and cook until al dente. Reserve ⅓ (80ml) of the pasta water, then drain the rest of the water from the pasta.
7. Add the cooked pasta into the sauce along with the reserved pasta water and stir until all coated in the sauce.
8. Stir in the cooked bacon and some chopped Italian parsley until warmed through and taste and season as needed with salt and black pepper.
9. Optional, sprinkle with a little fresh grated parmesan or cheddar.

Notes

This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, Slimming World and Weight Watchers friendly.

• Slimming World – 1.5 syns per serving
• WW Green Smart Points – 9 per serving
• WW Blue Smart Points – 9 per serving
• WW Purple Smart Points – 9 per serving (2 if you use brown rice pasta)
• Gluten Free – use gluten free pasta
• Dairy Free – omit optional cheese

Optional: Add some grated cheddar or parmesan to the top (using part of your HEa if on Slimming World, or WW points or calories)