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24 October 2019

Pasta with Bacon, Mushrooms and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Pasta with Bacon, Mushrooms and Sun-Dried Tomatoes / www.delightfulrepast.com


First of all, let me apologize for that title. Pasta with Bacon, Mushrooms and Sun-Dried Tomatoes. I'm sorry. 😔 I hate recipe names that are an ingredient list, but what else could I call it? At least I didn't include every ingredient.

But first, let's talk pasta. Mini penne is my favorite for this; you can use something else if you prefer. But I take issue with the cooking instructions on the pasta packages: "Bring 4 to 6 quarts of water to a boil." That's for one little pound of pasta, so they would have you boil 2 to 3 quarts for the half pound in this recipe. No.

Don't haul out your huge pot and waste a bunch of water and salt. In a 2- to 3-quart pan, bring 1 quart of water with 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a boil. That's all you need to cook 8 ounces of dried pasta. 

I hope you'll try this easy weeknight meal and let me know how you like it.

Pasta with Bacon, Mushrooms and Sun-Dried Tomatoes / www.delightfulrepast.com

Pasta with Bacon, Mushrooms and Sun-Dried Tomatoes


(Makes 3 Servings)

2 slices (2.5 ounces/71 grams) bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch strips
1/3 packed cup (1 ounce/28 grams) sun-dried tomato halves, cut into 1/4-inch strips
3 tablespoons hot water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 pound (8 ounces/227 grams) button mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 2x1/4-inch strips
1/4 cup (2 fluid ounces/60 ml) dry sherry
Optional: 1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces/118 ml) heavy cream
1/2 cup or more grated parmesan or finely shredded mozzarella


1 In large skillet, cook the bacon until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to small bowl. There will probably be about a tablespoon of bacon drippings in the pan.


2 In small bowl, add the hot water to the sun-dried tomatoes, cover and let stand until needed.

3 Add a tablespoon of the olive oil to the drippings in the skillet along with the chopped onion. Cook over medium-low heat until onion is very soft, about 5 minutes (or longer, if you like). 

4 Add the mushrooms to the skillet, sprinkle with the salt and pepper, and cook for 5 minutes. 

5 In the meantime, bring 1 quart of water with 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a boil in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan. Proceed with the recipe until the water is ready, then cook the pasta for the length of time specified on the package; drain well.

6 Add the bell pepper and reconstituted sun-dried tomatoes (minus any leftover soaking liquid) to the skillet. Cook for about 4 minutes.

7 Add the sherry and, if using, heavy cream (I sometimes use it, sometimes don't; this batch in the photos is without cream). Cook, stirring frequently, for a few minutes.

8 Stir the well-drained pasta into the sauce along with the bacon, then taste and adjust seasoning. I find that the small amount of salt I used on the mushrooms is quite enough because of the salt in the bacon and sun-dried tomatoes. Plate up and sprinkle with cheese.

Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon .com and affiliated sites. We are a ThermoWorks affiliate, earning a small commission at no cost to you on purchases made through our links. This helps cover some of the costs of running the blog. Thank you for your support. 

Jean

54 comments:

  1. You did a great job on the title ~ that is what caught my attention, those ingredients. ;)
    That would be a dish that I would live but not so much for my husband :(
    He's away on business and now would be a good time to make it. I believe this will be my dinner tonight. :-)

    Thank you for sharing and have a terrific day~

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  2. Debbie, thank you! That's good to know. Yes, do make it while he is out of town! :D I do that, too!

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  3. Nothing wrong with the title, Jean. The pasta looks very comforting and tasty..well, how could it be not tasty when bacon involves?

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  4. Looks like a perfect fall dinner. xo Laura

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  5. This looks and sounds delicious. You can't beat a pasta dish as the colder weather comes #BloggerClubUk

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  6. Thanks, Angie. Yes, when bacon is involved (savory foods only, please), I'm happy!

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  7. Thanks, MMBear! I do so love autumn weather!

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  8. Looks great, Jean!

    Sometimes it's hard to come up with a creative title or caption!

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  9. Yummy. Will have to make this! TFS Janice

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  10. Thank you, Maristella. Of course, YOU would put it on a prettier plate!

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  11. “Pasta with bacon, mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes .”
    You need say no more, Jean. The ingredients have sold this dish to me.
    In those iconic words, spoken in many a Monty Python episode, “Say know more. Know what I mean? Wink! Wink!”

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  12. I have to make this -- maybe even this weekend. It looks really fast and I have everything for it.

    Mini-penne is my very favorite pasta. It works for everything!

    Thanks, Jean.

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  13. I do not usually make a receipe with mushrooms and have never used sun-dried tomatoes, but this looks so good, will have to try it, I like trying new receipes.

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  14. Jeanie, thanks so much. And I'm glad to find another mini penne fan! Yes, it works with everything.

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  15. Such a flavorful pasta dish! I 'm always up for pasta with mushrooms - sounds delicious

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  16. Title itself makes me hungry. Those are my favorite ingredients for pasta! Maybe you can call it BMT pasta like BLT sandwich :-)

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  17. Thanks, tea lady. I hope you'll try it soon and let me know how you liked it! My husband is a huge fan of sun-dried tomatoes. I think you will be, too!

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  18. Judee, thanks. I think mushrooms are the best, but I was just talking to a friend last night who was saying she has an aversion to mushrooms.

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  19. Tamago, thanks, I love it--BMT Pasta, it is!

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  20. What a delicious combination of ingredients, Jean! You've used so many of my favourite flavours. Thank you for sharing your Pasta with Mushrooms Bacon and Sun-Dried Tomatoes with the Hearth and Soul Link Party! (PS - I don't mind recipes that list many of the ingredients in the title, it can be very helpful sometimes!)

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  21. Thanks for giving me permission to cook pasta with less water then they say to use. I've been doing that and feeling just a wee guilty. LOL>
    Sounds like a delicious meal.

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  22. Mushrooms and bacon with pasta in the autumn is just a perfect combination. I can't remember a better crop of wild mushrooms than we have this year around my way - must be all the rain we've been having. I must admit that I'm really not a fan of cream in pasta sauces for some reason, so I'd leave that out. The instructions to heat vast amounts of water for pasta always make me smile - I doubt if many people pay much attention to them.

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  23. April, thank you so much. And I think you're right. Sometimes it IS helpful, more so than a made-up name like Pasta Surprise!

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  24. Thanks, Phil. Yes, I think I skip the cream in this most of the time. Once in a while I put it in, particularly if I'm using parmesan. I would never trust my own wild mushroom foraging skills! :D

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  25. Ellen, too funny! :D Thanks for sharing your guilty secret with me!

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  26. Hi Jean! I'm popping in to let you know that I made this recipe this evening and oh my, my it was wonderful!
    I opted out on the cream and the cheese, but otherwise it's a keeper.
    As I mentioned in my last comment my husband is not fond of some of these ingredients, but I will be making it for him, because I think he may enjoy it.
    Thank you for sharing this with us~

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  27. Debbie, thank you so much for coming back and letting me know how it turned out for you! I'm so glad you liked it. I often leave the cream out, but only skip the cheese if I'm out of it! :D Do let me know if you make it for your husband.

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  28. Yum yum yum, Jean! I wish I had some right now for my lunch! Thank you, friend!

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  29. A wonderful combination of ingredients! I think for my first go, I will use pancetta (since I cured about 4 pounds of it recently). Yum?

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  30. This looks delicious. I love bacon with pasta! #BloggerClubUK

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  31. I do like the mix of bacon, mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes :)

    All the best Jan

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  32. Hi Jean,
    I just love this dish, just packed with flavor! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday.
    Miz Helen

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  33. Good recipe -- just loaded with flavor. The recipe title is perfect. And I'm more and more using less and less water when I cook pasta. I know the "theory" is that a really large pot of water returns to a boil more quickly when you add the pasta to the water. But I've been questioning how necessary that is for the past couple of years. So I've been reducing the amount of water, too. Anyway, good post -- thanks.

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  34. David, yes, definitely use your home-cured pancetta! Yum!

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  35. Thanks, TWT. Hope you didn't have to have twice microwaved tea today! :D

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  36. Thank you, Jan. It's a combination we really like.

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  37. Thanks so much, Miz Helen. Always a pleasure to join in at #FullPlateThursday!

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  38. Thank you, John. And I so appreciate your thoughts on the reduced cooking water for pasta.

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  39. Thanks for sharing at the Fabulous Friday Linky Party! Can’t wait to see what you share this week>>https://abiggreenhouse.com/the-super-fabulous-friday-linky-party-6/

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  40. Oh, my favorite ingredients! I bet I'd love this! Thanks for linking up with us at the GATHER OF FRIENDS LINK PARTY 9. Pinned

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  41. I don't care what you call it, Jean, the pasta dish sounds wonderful and full of flavor!! I know I would love it.

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