How To Make Rocket And Smoked Bacon Penne

Step 1: Preheat the oven

Step 2: Roast the tomatoes

Sprinkle some sea salt onto the baking tray. Lay the parsley on top. Add the tomatoes (open side up) and season with a little more salt. Cook for 10 minutes then lower the heat to 130ºC (250ºF/ gas mark 1) and cook for approximately 2 hours.

Step 3: Cook the pasta

Half fill a tall pot with water and put on a high heat. Add some salt and olive oil, cover and bring to the boil. Once the water is boiling, add the pasta, stir and cook for approximately 11 minutes.

Step 4: Fry the bacon

Place a large frying pan over a high heat. When hot, add the bacon and fry until brown. Remove and lay on paper towels to soak up any excess oil (reserve the oil from the frying pan for later use).

Step 5: Drain the pasta

When the pasta has finished cooking, drain away the water.

Step 6: Combine ingredients and heat

To the large frying pan, add the pasta, bacon, tomatoes and finally the rocket (adding the rocket last helps to keep it as fresh as possible). Mix well and heat briefly.

Step 7: Serve

Heap a generous helping of pasta onto a serving plate and finish by sprinkling over the shaved parmesan and some olive oil. A dish that goes perfectly with a glass of white wine and some ciabatta bread.