Angel Hair with sauteed red peppers and pepper bacon

When Tom is off on a trip I often find myself relying on my favorite 10-minute pastas. This is one recipe that I come back to over and over. It is so easy to prepare and is cream free. It makes a wonderful lunch especially in the summer. It is a perfect recipe to make for your girlfriends on a day when your all hanging out.

Serve with a bottle of delicious chilled white wine for a memorable afternoon!

Ingredients:

1/2 box of angel hair or capellini pasta

1/2 red onion or one whole shallot - sliced thin

1 small red pepper - sliced thin

zest of one fresh lemon - half of the juice

2-3 slices of pepper bacon - sliced into matchstick size slices

Optional - 1 small chili pepper - sliced thin and deseeded or use pinch of red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon of chopped parsley or basil

1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

1 Tbsp. olive oil

Fresh cracked black pepper

Pinch of salt

Directions:

Prepare your pasta in lightly salted water according to package directions. (approx 4 minutes for angel hair or capellini)

In a saute pan on medium heat add 1/2 Tbsp. of the olive oil. When the oil is warm add the sliced bacon and cook for 4-5 minutes. You should not need to drain any residual fat.

Add next the sliced onions (or shallots), the red pepper slices and chili if using, or the red pepper flakes. Saute until vegetables are just done.

Add a small ladle of pasta water into the saute pan with the vegetables and allow it to reduce for one minute or two.

Add the lemon zest next.

Using tongs add into the skillet pan the cooked pasta and toss well to incorporate. Add a pinch of salt and black pepper.

Drizzle over the pasta some of the lemon juice and 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil. Toss lightly

Finish with fresh chopped parsley or basil and the Parmesan cheese.

ENJOY!