Lemon-Garlic Bucatini and Panchetta

Pasta ... who doesn't love it?

You know what my favorite pasta is? Bucatini!
If you've never had it, it looks like spaghetti, except it's thicker and has a hole running right through it from end to end.

And you know what that means right? Sauce gets in there, so there's sauce a inside and out. Now tell me that doesn't sound divinely delicious.

Now add panchetta (Italian "bacon" - unsmoked pork belly), garlic, cream, lemon and cheese. Lots of yummy, salty, nutty Parmesan cheese. Oh goodness, I want to get into the kitchen and make this again, it's so good!

So easy to make and the entire meal comes together in under 30 minutes. Thirty minutes to the tang of lemon, the nuttiness of Parm and the slurp of the bucatini.

If you want to jazz it up a little, add a pound of shrimp when you get to step 4. Shrimp and panchetta really play nicely together. I think you'll like it.

Round the meal out with a salad, garlic bread and your favorite wine and you are set.

Leftovers, yeah, even better the next day.  Add a splash of cream when you heat it up to loosen it up, and sprinkle with Parm. Lunch anyone?

Serves 2 - 4

• 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 8oz panchetta - diced
• 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic (or more to taste)
• zest of one lemon, thinly sliced (set aside a few strands
• Juice of one lemon
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 egg -  beaten
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 1/2 cups fresh, grated Parmesan cheese (no canned cheese - please) reserve 1/2 cup for sprinkling over each serving
• 1 pound cooked bucatini
• Palm full of Italian parsley, chopped 

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of the oil and panchetta.
2. Saute panchetta until crispy, stirring often
3. Lower heat to medium-low
4. Add 1/2 tablespoon oil followed by the garlic and lemon zest - stirring continuously to avoid burning. Cook 2-3 minutes.
5. Stir in cream and egg, stirring continuously cook till almost bubbling
6. Briskly stir in wine to incorporate into cream mixture
7. Add 1 cup of Parmesan, the bucatini and parsley, stir well to distribute throughout.
8. Top with chopped parsley, stir well.

Serve into deep bowl, top each with additional Parmesan and enjoy!