Chargrilled Courgette and Smoked Bacon Pasta Recipe

This is so quick and easy to make, you can double the ingredients if you have visitors, and a lot of the ingredients are what you would have as staples in your pantry too. Served with garlic bread is divine.

You will need 

• 2x courgettes
• 150g pasta (your favourite shape/type)
• Garlic
• 4x strips of smoked bacon (or you can use smoked chicken)
• Cooking oil
• Chilli flakes

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to the instructions.
2. While the pasta is cooking, toss the courgettes in 1 tbsp of cooking oil and season. 
3. Heat a griddle pan until hot, then griddle the courgettes in batches until tender and grill-marked on both sides (you could do this on the BBQ as well).  As they are done, remove to a bowl and cover with a plate to keep warm.
4. HEAT THE remaining 11/2 tbsp of cooking oil in a frying pan and fry the bacon/chicken 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.
5. 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.