Method

Step 1

Prepare the ingredients as indicated above.

Step 2

Bring a saucepan of lightly salted water to the boil. Add a few drops of olive oil and the penne and cook for 6 to 8 minutes. Don’t overcook the pasta – you want it al dente, that’s slightly chewy and uniformly translucent. Once cooked, drain and keep warm in a colander over a saucepan of hot water. Sprinkle penne with a little olive oil to prevent it from sticking together.

Step 3

Put a pan on medium to high heat and dry fry the bacon for 3 to 4 minutes until beginning to crisp. Add a little olive oil, garlic and chillies and pan fry for about 5 minutes. Add a little more olive oil and the lemon juice and season to taste. Now add the penne, parsley and Parmesan (keeping a little aside for the garnish). Toss well.

Step 4

To serve, place the pasta on the plate or bowl and sprinkle the remaining parmesan on top.