Читать книгу Home Cooking - Rachel Allen - Страница 77

Alphabet pasta is available in larger supermarkets, but use what other little shapes you can get hold of, such as small rings, tiny shells, little bows, wheels, stars or moons — they are fun additions to soup, amusing adults just as much as children. You can use raw chorizo or chicken instead of the bacon, if you prefer.

1 tbsp olive oil

150g (5oz) streaky bacon, thinly sliced

1 onion, peeled and diced

4 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed

1 × 400g tin of chopped tomatoes

1 litre (1¾ pints) chicken or vegetable stock (see page 326)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

½–1 tsp caster sugar

100g (3½oz) alphabet pasta or other small pasta shapes

2 tbsp finely shredded basil (optional)

1 Add the olive oil to a large saucepan on a high heat and fry the bacon for 3–4 minutes or until crisp and golden. Tip in the onion and garlic, reduce the heat and gently cook for 8–10 minutes or until soft but not browned. Add the tomatoes and stock and season to taste with salt, pepper and sugar.

2 Increase the heat a little and simmer for about 15 minutes or until slightly reduced. Add the pasta shapes and continue to simmer for a further 5 minutes or until the pasta is cooked.

3 Remove from the heat and stir in the basil (if using). Check the seasoning, adding more salt, pepper or sugar if necessary, and ladle into warm bowls.