This creamy Italian pork pasta is rich, hearty, and full of flavour. Tender pork mince, garlic, and herbs in a creamy sauce tossed with pasta – the perfect weeknight dinner ready in under an hour!
2tspfennel seedsroughly ground using a pestle and mortar
1tspchilli flakes
1.5tbspolive oil
1onion (approx. 150g to 200g)finely chopped
2clovesgarlicfinely chopped
2tspItalian seasoning
180g(6.3oz)smoked bacon lardons
150ml(½cup)chicken stock
400g(14.1oz)tin chopped tomatoes
300g(0.7lb)dried conchiglie pasta
150ml(½cup)double cream(I use Elmlea to reduce calories!)
15g(0.5oz)parmesan cheesegrated, plus extra to garnish
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1tbspfresh flat leaf parsleyroughly chopped, to garnish
Instructions
Place the pork mince into a bowl along with the ground fennel seeds and chilli flakes. Mix well to ensure they’re well combined and set aside.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a high heat. Add the onion, garlic, Italian seasoning and bacon lardons, and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 6 minutes until the onion has softened. Scatter over the pork mixture, and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, for 4 to 5 minutes until the meat has broken down and begins to brown. Stir in the stock and tin of tomatoes and bring to the boil.
Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 25 minutes until the meat has cooked and the sauce has thickened.
Once the pork has been simmering for 15 minutes, cook the pasta for a minute less than the packet instructions.
Stir the cream and grated parmesan cheese into the pork mixture and simmer gently for 1 minute. Check the seasoning and add salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
When the pasta is cooked, drain well and stir it into the pork mixture. Finish cooking the pasta in the sauce over a low heat for 2 minutes. Serve the pasta straight from the pan or tip it into a large serving bowl. Garnish with extra parmesan, chopped parsley and freshly ground black pepper.
Notes
Optional variations:
Add mushrooms, spinach or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavour and colour.
Swap the cream for crème fraiche or mascarpone for a lighter twist.
This creamy Italian pork pasta recipe is easily adapted if you’re cooking for less or more people.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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