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Ziti pasta with Italian lardo (ziti lardiati)
5 from 92 votes

Ziti pasta with Italian lardo (ziti lardiati)

Ziti lardiati is a pasta dish featuring ziti pasta cooked with Italian lardo, aromatic vegetables, fresh basil, and a tomato-based sauce enriched with pecorino cheese. The lardo gradually melts with the onion and garlic, adding depth and richness to the sauce that is gently simmered before combining with al dente pasta for a flavorful, hearty meal.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 714 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Italian

Ingredients

  • 320 g ziti pasta 11-12oz) If using zitoni or long ziti you will need to break the pasta pieces in half, or zitoni pasta
  • 130 g lardo (4.5oz) preferably Lardo di Colonnata or Lardo di Arnad
  • 1 onion peeled and chopped
  • 1 garlic peeled, clove
  • 1 handful basil or parsley, fresh
  • 400 g cherry tomatoes 14oz) I used datterini, fresh
  • 3-4 tablespoon tomato passata
  • 1 tablespoon tomato concentrate
  • ½ glass white wine
  • 50 g pecorino cheese (2oz)
  • 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • salt for pasta and to taste

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Peel the garlic clove and onion. Cut the onion and lardo into very small pieces. 
  2. Do the same with the tomatoes after washing them.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan or skillet. Brown the garlic in the pan (be careful not to burn it) and then add the onion and lardo.
  4. Cook slowly for 10 minutes so the lardo melts.
  5. Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. When it starts to boil, add salt and bring to the boil again.
  6. Add the white wine to the onions and lardo, turn up the heat and let the alcohol evaporate.
  7. At this point add the tomatoes and a pinch of salt, then stir. add the basil or parsley. Once the tomatoes start to soften add the passata and tomato concentrate. Stir again.
  8. Cook for 10 minutes then remove the garlic.
  9. Cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the packet. When it's ready save a cup of the cooking water and drain.
  10. Add the grated cheese to the sauce and mix together and stir until the cheese melts. If the sauce seems dry add some of the pasta cooking water.
  11. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and mix everything together so the pasta gets coated in the sauce.
  12. Serve immediately sprinkled with a little more chopped basil or parsley, and some grated pecorino if required.

Notes

  • This dish can be varied by adding a pinch of peperoncino for a spicy note.
  • If ziti or zitoni is unavailable, other tubular pasta like penne or rigatoni can be used; long pasta tubes should be broken as traditionally done in Naples.
  • Guanciale or pancetta can replace lardo for a different flavor profile.

Nutrition Information

Calories 714kcal (36%) Carbohydrates 69g (23%) Protein 20g (40%) Fat 40g (62%) Saturated Fat 13g (65%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g (12%) Monounsaturated Fat 9g (45%) Cholesterol 48mg (16%) Sodium 483mg (20%) Potassium 555mg (12%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 664IU (13%) Vitamin C 27mg (30%) Calcium 174mg (17%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 714

% Daily Value*

Calories 714kcal 36%
Carbohydrates 69g 23%
Protein 20g 40%
Fat 40g 62%
Saturated Fat 13g 65%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 48mg 16%
Sodium 483mg 20%
Potassium 555mg 12%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 7g 14%
Vitamin A 664IU 13%
Vitamin C 27mg 30%
Calcium 174mg 17%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.