Pasta A la Mamma

 Ingredients: 400g of pasta, 100g of thick sour cream, 200g of kaiser or bacon (can be smoked), grated cheese (whatever you have in the fridge): gruyere, emmental, smoked cheese, feta, telemea, mozzarella, parmesan (the success of this recipe depends on the variety of cheeses), 600g of tomato sauce or tomatoes in juice, 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1-2 garlic cloves, salt, pepper, 2-3 teaspoons of sugar.

In a spacious pot, the one you chose to prepare the delicious sauce, add good quality olive oil. Place the diced bacon and let it sizzle over medium heat until it turns golden and crispy. This will release a fascinating aroma that will enrich the entire dish. Once the bacon is cooked, remove it with a spatula and place it on a plate. At this point, you will notice that a generous amount of fat remains in the pot, which will serve as a base for the sauce.

Over the remaining fat, add the tomato sauce, which can be made from fresh tomatoes or from canned sauce, depending on your preferences. Pour water into the sauce to achieve the desired consistency, then add the finely chopped garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and binds well, and the flavors blend harmoniously.

Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a large pot, add salt, and bring it to a boiling point. When the water is boiling, add your favorite pasta and cook according to the package instructions, being careful to leave it al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and quickly rinse it with a little cold water to stop the cooking process. Then, add the pasta to the hot tomato sauce, stirring well to coat them evenly.

After the pasta is fully integrated into the sauce, add the fried bacon, rich cream, and grated cheeses, reserving a handful of parmesan for garnish. Carefully mix everything so that each ingredient combines perfectly. Transfer the mixture back to the same pot or to a baking dish and place it in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for about 10 minutes, until the cheese on top melts and becomes slightly golden.

Finally, remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese on top, which will add extra flavor. Serve this dish warm, alongside a fresh green salad that will provide a refreshing contrast. Enjoy every bite and savor the intense flavors of this delicious dish! Bon appétit!

 Tags:  cheese garlic tomatoes broth oil sour cream cheese sugar telemea olives