Perfection in Pasta

• The long strands of spaghetti glisten with the oil from the bacon. If you don't have spaghetti, substitute thinner angel hair pasta. It cooks in less time than spaghetti. Another alternative is fettuccine, which is thicker and flatter than the round strands of spaghetti. Fettuccine takes a little longer to cook. If your pantry is bare except for a box of elbow macaroni, don't despair; while strands are better for this dish, just about any kind of pasta will work.

Pork Parts

• Since there are few ingredients in the dish, flavorful bacon is a must. Try an apple-wood smoked bacon or perhaps a peppered bacon. Either thick- or thin-cut slices work, but diced thick-cut bacon adds a little more substance to the dish. If you're fresh out of bacon, pancetta -- an Italian bacon -- is a good substitute. Have no bacon? No problem -- use diced ham or -- if the budget allows -- prosciutto, which isn't a bacon but cured ham. Add slivers of the prosciutto right before serving. Smoked pork is another option. Keep in mind when using these substitutes for bacon that the flavor of the dish is altered.

Crafting the Crumbs

• Any type of breadcrumb works for spaghetti with bacon and breadcrumbs. Toast fresh breadcrumbs in the bacon fat or olive oil so they're crunchy. Panko -- Japanese breadcrumbs -- are already crisp and read to sprinkle on top. Herbed breads lend the flavor of the herbs to the finished dish. Sourdough bread adds a bit of tang. Whatever kind of bread you use, the crumbs should be crunchy. Either toast the bread and crumble, or put the bread in a blender and buzz to crumbs. Then set the crumbs in a low oven until the crumbs are crunchy.

Supporting Cast

• This hearty dish doesn't need anything else but the major three ingredients, with the exception that you may have to add a few slugs of olive oil to the bacon fat so all the spaghetti is coated. While the dish is satisfying by itself, you do have the option of dressing it up. Chopped olives and anchovies add pleasant sourness and a kiss of the ocean. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese right before serving and spaghetti with bacon and breadcrumbs turns into a dish similar to spaghetti alla carbonara. Introduce the sweetness of peas by adding a package of frozen peas right before the pasta is cooked. Asparagus tips or artichoke hearts are other options. You could also add some chopped garlic, parsley and basil to the dish.

Putting It All Together

• Bring a pot of salted water to a vigorous boil. Add the spaghetti. When the water comes to a rolling boil, turn down the heat so the pasta remains boiling but won't boil over. In the meantime, dice the bacon or cut the strips into smaller bite-size pieces. Fry over medium-high heat until the bacon is crispy. Drain the spaghetti when it's al dente, saving a cupful of the liquid. Add the spaghetti to the bacon. Add a few tablespoons of the pasta liquid to create a sauce. Serve and top with the breadcrumbs.