Ingredients
- Kosher salt
- 12 ounces gemelli, fusilli or spaghetti
- 1 head escarole, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon pine nuts
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1/4 pound pancetta, cut into thin strips
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 red jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced (remove seeds for less heat)
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until just al dente, about 10 minutes. Add the escarole and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 2 more minutes.
Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts in a large skillet over medium-high heat, about 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, the breadcrumbs, and salt and pepper to taste; cook until golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a plate. Wipe out the skillet, add the pancetta and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and blot dry.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet, then add the garlic and jalapeno and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Drain the pasta and escarole, reserving 1 cup cooking water, and add to the skillet. Add half of the pancetta and toss, drizzling in enough pasta water to moisten. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the pasta among bowls, top with the breadcrumb mixture, remaining pancetta and the parmesan. Drizzle with olive oil.
Per serving: Calories 568; Fat 23 g (Saturated 6 g); Cholesterol 20 mg; Sodium 140 mg; Carbohydrate 71 g; Fiber 3 g; Protein 21 g
Photograph by Antonis Achilleos

Photo: Pasta with Escarole Recipe

















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By shelteredcreature
on December 19, 2011
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While I did enjoy this recipe as is I did have to make a trip to a fancier grocery store to geta few of the ingredients. I now swap out the pancetta with proscuttio(which I have sliced a half inch thick in my grocery store deli. I usually can't get red jalapenos by me also, so I use cubanelle peppers or a handful of diced peperoncini.I have tried this dish with spinach, but highly recommend using the escarole(which is usually called endive at my grocer store, the spinach just kind of fell flat flavorwise. I find my substitutions still yeild an equally delicious result.
By sbpaino
New Jersey
on February 28, 2011
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so easy and sooo amazingly good!
By chg5678
Boston, MA
on August 03, 2010
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I substituted the pasta for porcini mushroom ravioli from the pasta shop down the street, and I really loved this. I grow escarole in my garden so I was happy to find a new recipe.
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