Silky Sicilian Penne with Bacon

Silky Sicilian Penne with Bacon

🥘 Ingredients

  • Italian seasoning
    1 tbsp
  • Parmesan cheese
    6 tbsp
  • black pepper
  • butter
    3 tbsp
  • chives
    ¼ oz
  • creme fraiche
    1/2 c
  • cremini mushrooms
    8 oz
  • grape tomatoes
    8 oz
  • lemon
    1 unit
  • mushroom stock concentrate
    2 unit
  • olive oil
    1 tbsp
  • penne pasta
    12 oz
  • salt
  • zucchini
    2 unit

🍳 Cookware

  • large pot
  • large pan
  • medium bowl
  1. 1
    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry produce. Trim and quarter zucchini lengthwise; cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick pieces. Trim and thinly slice cremini mushrooms (skip if your mushrooms are pre-sliced!). Halve grape tomatoes . Mince chives . Quarter lemon .
    zucchini: 2 unit, cremini mushrooms: 8 oz, grape tomatoes: 8 oz, chives: ¼ oz, lemon: 1 unit
  2. 2
    Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add zucchini; season with salt and black pepper . Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and softened, ⏱️ 4-6 minutes . Transfer to a medium bowl . Wipe out pan.
    olive oil: 1 tbsp, salt, black pepper
  3. 3
    Heat a drizzle of olive oil in the pan used for zucchini over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and slightly crispy, ⏱️ 5-7 minutes . Turn off heat; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl with zucchini. Wash out pan.
  4. 4
    Once water is boiling, add penne pasta to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, ⏱️ 9-11 minutes . Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
    penne pasta: 12 oz
  5. 5
    While penne cooks, heat ½ TBSP butter (1 TBSP for 4 servings) and a drizzle of olive oil in pan used for mushrooms over medium-high heat. Add tomatoes and season with 1 tsp Italian seasoning (2 tsp for 4), salt, and pepper. (Use the rest of the Italian Seasoning as you like.) Cook, stirring, until tomatoes are softened, ⏱️ 2-4 minutes . Stir in half the chives and juice from half the lemon. Reduce heat to low, then stir in mushroom stock concentrate and ¼ cup reserved pasta cooking water (⅓ cup for 4). Whisk in creme fraiche ; season with salt and pepper.
    butter: 3 tbsp, Italian seasoning: 1 tbsp, mushroom stock concentrate: 2 unit, creme fraiche: 1/2 c
  6. 6
    Add zucchini, mushrooms, and drained penne to pan with sauce; stir to combine. Stir in 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) until melted. TIP: If necessary, add more pasta cooking water a splash at a time until penne is coated in a creamy sauce. Divide pasta between bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and remaining chives. Serve with remaining lemon wedges on the side.
    Parmesan cheese: 6 tbsp