Ingredients
2 large heads Treviso or radicchio, quartered lengthwise
Extra-virgin olive oil non-aerosol spray
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
⅓ pound meaty smoked pancetta, chopped, or bacon, diced
1 red onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped or thinly sliced
About ¾ to 1 cup semi-dried tomatoes, drained (or sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped or sun-dried tomatoes reconstituted in hot water, drained and chopped)
1 pound farro or other spaghetti of choice
Grated pecorino cheese or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 tablespoons aged Balsamic vinegar
Chopped flat parsley, to serve
Directions
Heat a large pot of water to boil for pasta.
Preheat oven to 450˚F and arrange the purple lettuce on baking sheet. Spray with oil, season with salt and pepper. Roast 7 minutes, then turn to roast 5 minutes more. Remove, cool to handle and shred.
For the sauce, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, add the pancetta and render to crisp, 3 minutes. Add red onions and garlic and stir 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and reduce heat to low.
Salt water and cook pasta 1 minute less than package directions; drain, reserving 1 cup cooking water.
Toss pasta with sauce, cheese of choice and radicchio, adding reserved pasta water as needed to thin sauce. Finish with a fast drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar and parsley to serve.
