Name: Chargrilled courgette and smoked bacon pasta
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 2
Ingredients: 150g fiorelli or fusilli pasta; 2 medium courgettes halved and sliced 1cm thick on the diagonal; 2½ tbsp olive oil; 4 slices smoked streaky bacon chopped; 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced; a pinch dried chilli flakes

150g fiorelli or fusilli pasta
2 medium courgettes
halved and sliced 1cm thick on the diagonal
2½ tbsp olive oil
4 slices smoked streaky bacon
chopped
2 cloves garlic
thinly sliced
a pinch dried chilli flakes

Method

step 1
Cook the pasta following pack instructions.
step 2
Meanwhile, toss the courgettes in 1 tbsp of olive oil and season. Heat a griddle pan until hot, then griddle the courgettes in batches until tender and grill-marked on both sides. As they are done, remove to a bowl and cover with a plate to keep warm.
step 3
Heat the remaining 1¹/2 tbsp of olive oil in a frying pan and fry the bacon until crisp and golden. Add the garlic, turn down the heat so it doesn’t burn, and cook for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the chilli flakes, if using.
step 4
Drain the pasta, reserving a mug of the cooking water. Tip the pasta and courgettes into the bacon pan with 2 tbsp of the cooking water, and toss everything together. Season well and serve.