Bacon & Cabbage Pasta

Ingredients
- 400g bucatini
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 150g best quality pancetta or smoked streaky bacon, thickly cut
- 2 small leeks, cleaned and finely sliced
- 2 cloves of garlic, finely sliced
- A few sprigs thyme, leaves picked
- 1/4 head savoy cabbage, in 2cm slices
- 250ml double cream
- 50g Parmesan cheese, finely grated
1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Add the bucatini and cook until al dente (approx. 9-10 minutes).
2
Place a large frying pan over a medium high heat and add the oil and pancetta. Cook for five minutes until crispy, tossing in the oil to evenly brown.
3
Add the leeks, season and cook for 5 minutes before adding the garlic, thyme and savoy. Cook until the cabbage is just tender.
4
Pour in the cream, bring to a steady simmer and allow to cook until reduced by half. Check the seasoning before adding the cooked pasta and half the cheese along with a little of the pasta water. Stir through until the pasta is completely coated in the sauce.
5
Serve immediately with plenty more Parmesan cheese and a generous grind of black pepper.