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Bacon Spinach Pasta for #SundaySupper

Bacon Spinach Pasta | Magnolia Days

A gentle breeze blows as I am mowing the lawn. It’s a pleasant and sunny day with a bright blue sky. Leaves are dotted around the yard. Each pass with the mower cleans up what has fallen although only for a few moments. More leaves float down and dance in the wind. Specks of yellow in the landscape are becoming more visible. Soon trees will show their brilliant autumn colors. Fall has arrived and I’ve been waiting to make this bacon spinach pasta to kick off the season.

Tree shaped pasta in fall colors. How lucky I was to find it many weeks ago. It’s called “Abetini di Socchieve” and made by Zanier in Italy. There was one bag mixed in an assortment on a shelf in a store where I shop occasionally. The recipe works with other pasta like farfalle (bow ties) so you don’t need this particular one.

My food cravings change with the seasons. One thing I make each fall is a spinach salad with warm bacon dressing. It was the inspiration for this pasta. I started with the base of the bacon dressing and changed up a few things. I added garlic, used currants instead of cranberries, and wilted the spinach in it before tossing with the pasta, pine nuts, and bacon crumbles. The finished dish is a combo of flavors and textures of sweet, salty, crunchy, soft, earthy, nutty, and satisfying.

Bacon Spinach Pasta | Magnolia Days

What do you crave when autumn begins? Do you have a certain dish you make or search for new ones to try? If you are on a search then it is your lucky day because Sunday Supper bloggers are sharing oodles of recipes for fall foods. Scroll down to see the list below. Enjoy the season!

Bacon Spinach Pasta

A recipe for pasta tossed crisp bacon, spinach, currants, pine nuts and a dressing or sauce made with shallots, thyme, olive oil, and red wine vinegar.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Author Renee

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces pasta dry weight
  • 4 slices bacon regular thickness
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • Few grinds of fresh ground pepper
  • 1/4 cup dried currants
  • 5 to 6 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves
  • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
  • Parmeasan cheese for garnish optional

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water to use if needed.
  2. While pasta is cooking, prepare the remaining:
  3. In a large sauté pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until brown and crispy. Transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Reserve fat in pan.
  4. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool a few minutes. This will keep the shallots from frying and browning in the next step.
  5. Return the pan to medium-low heat and add olive oil, thyme, and shallot. Cook until shallots are soft and translucent, about 3 minutes.
  6. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  7. Add honey, vinegar, and pepper. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer for 3 minutes.
  8. Add currants and remove pan from heat. Allow currants to soak in the pan and soften, about 5 minutes.
  9. Return the pan to medium heat and add spinach. Cook spinach, tossing continuously, until spinach has wilted. Remove pan from heat.
  10. Crumble or cut bacon into pieces. Add bacon pieces, pine nuts, and cooked pasta to the pan. Toss to coat pasta and combine ingredients. Add some reserved pasta water if needed.
  11. Divide pasta among serving plates. Garnish with parmesan cheese if desired.

Recipe Notes

A recipe for pasta tossed crisp bacon, spinach, currants, pine nuts and a dressing or sauce made with shallots, thyme, olive oil, and red wine vinegar.

Looking for fall food recipes? Check out these by Sunday Supper bloggers:

Amazing Breakfasts, Brunches, and Breads

Outstanding Soups, Starters and Sides:

Comforting Main Dishes:

Decadent Desserts:

Tasty Drinks:

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here → Sunday Supper Movement

Recipe Rating




Kim Bee

Sunday 29th of September 2013

I love pasta. Cute pasta even more so.

Renee

Monday 30th of September 2013

Yep, those different and cute pasta shapes sure can make a dish.

Anne @ Webicurean

Sunday 29th of September 2013

I love the shape of the pasta! What a great idea--wilted spinach salad is so yummy, of course it would be delicious combined with pasta!

Renee

Monday 30th of September 2013

Thanks Anne. And I could eat spinach just about any way and on any day.

Kalamity Kelli

Saturday 28th of September 2013

This sounds so good and Wow! I love that pasta!!

Renee

Monday 30th of September 2013

Thanks Kelli

sunithi

Thursday 26th of September 2013

So colorful and pretty. Love the flavors in this dish.

Renee

Saturday 28th of September 2013

Thanks Sue

Nancy @ gottagetbaked

Thursday 26th of September 2013

I'm craving your delicious pasta dish now, Renee! It's full of every tasty ingredient I love to eat: bacon, pasta, spinach and garlic. Wow! The pasta is pretty darn adorable too.

Renee

Saturday 28th of September 2013

I ate the pasta for days. It was so good and fun since it is shaped like trees.