Bow Tie Pasta With Bacon Pesto

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 6 slices thick-cut bacon (preferably smoked)
• 12 ounces farfalle pasta
• 2 1/2 cups fresh basil
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• salt & fresh ground pepper, to taste
• 1 tomato, seeded and diced

Recipe

• 1 in a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook bacon until crisp, about 8 minutes. use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to paper towels and drain well. let bacon cool slightly.
• 2 meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. add pasta and cook according to package directions. reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water; then drain pasta, return to the pot and set aside.
• 3 in a food processor, combine bacon, basil, pine nuts and garlic. pulse until well chopped.
• 4 then with processor running, drizzle in olive oil until ingredients form a thick paste.
• 5 stop processor and scrape sides with a rubber spatula as needed. season with salt and pepper, then pulse again to blend.
• 6 add pesto to pasta and toss well. add just a bit ot the pasta cooking water and toss again. serve topped with diced tomato.