Spring is in the air, which means it's time to lighten up our meals. A traditional Italian pasta dish, spaghetti carbonara is typically made with heavy cream, cheese, and pancetta or guanciale. But for a lighter, fresher take on this classic dish, we're using spring greens, asparagus, and lemon. The result is a vibrant, flavorful pasta that's perfect for a spring lunch or dinner.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
SPRING GREENS CARBONARA
Enjoy a twist on a carbonara with plenty of spring vegetables. Sweet peas and asparagus balance the saltiness of the pancetta and richness of the egg yolks
Provided by Cassie Best
Categories Dinner
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Boil the kettle. Heat ½ tbsp oil in a large, deep frying pan or saucepan over a low-medium heat and sizzle the pancetta until crisp, about 5 mins. Once crisp, reduce the heat to as low as it will go to keep warm.
- Meanwhile, put the parsley, basil, mint and remaining oil in a small food processor and blitz until finely chopped. Or, finely chop the herbs using a sharp knife and omit the oil. Whisk the egg yolks and parmesan together in a separate bowl.
- Fill a large saucepan with boiling water from the kettle, season well with salt and bring to the boil on the hob, then cook the spaghetti for 10 mins until al dente. Add the asparagus and broccoli for the final 3 mins of cooking time, and the peas for the final 30 seconds.
- Lift the spaghetti into the pan with the pancetta using tongs, allowing a little water to be added with each addition of pasta. Drain the boiled veg but reserve a mug of the cooking water, then add the veg to the pan with the spaghetti and pancetta. Keep the heat set as low as possible and ensure there is a small puddle of the pasta cooking water in the bottom of the pan. This will prevent anything catching and help loosen the sauce.
- Scrape all of the herb mixture and the egg and cheese over the warm spaghetti mixture and use tongs to toss everything together, ensuring each strand of spaghetti is well-coated. Continue tossing the pasta through the sauce for a few minutes, turning the heat up slightly if needed until the sauce thickens and clings to the spaghetti. Add splashes of the reserved pasta cooking water if the sauce becomes too thick - the spaghetti should be glossy and shiny when ready.
- Divide between bowls and top with extra parmesan, a grinding of black pepper and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, if you like.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 700 calories, Fat 30 grams fat, SaturatedFat 9 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 71 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 5 grams sugar, Fiber 7 grams fiber, Protein 32 grams protein, Sodium 2 milligram of sodium
SPRING GREEN SPAGHETTI CARBONARA
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water with 2 tablespoons salt to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reserve a cup of the pasta water, then add the snow peas, fresh peas, and asparagus to the spaghetti and cook for 2 minutes longer. Drain the pasta and vegetables together.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium (10 to 11-inch) sauté pan over medium heat, add the pancetta, and cook for 7 to 9 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Transfer the pancetta to a plate lined with paper towels and set aside.
- While the pancetta cooks, fill a large bowl with the hottest tap water and set aside to heat the bowl. Just before you drain the pasta, pour the water out of the bowl. Put the cream, eggs, egg yolks, and 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water into the bowl and whisk to combine. Immediately, add the hot pasta and vegetables and toss with tongs for a full minute or two, until the pasta absorbs the sauce. Add enough reserved hot pasta water to keep the sauce creamy. Add the 3/4 cup Parmesan, the scallions, chives, lemon zest and juice, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and toss well. Add the pancetta, sprinkle with salt, and serve hot sprinkled with extra chives and Parmesan.
SPRINGTIME SPAGHETTI CARBONARA
This lighter, brighter version of the classic Italian pasta dish is adapted from one found in "Almost Meatless: Recipes That Are Better for Your Health and the Planet" by Joy Manning and Tara Mataraza Desmond. It is incredibly simple - if you can chop vegetables, boil water and whisk eggs, you can make this dish - but it's also indubitably luxurious. Everyone will think you slaved for hours when, really, you slaved for about 20 minutes. Timing is everything in this recipe, so be sure to bring your eggs to room temperature before you start, and have all of the ingredients ready before you toss the pasta in the water.
Provided by Tara Parker-Pope
Categories dinner, easy, quick, weekday, pastas, main course
Time 20m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat a sauté pan over medium heat and add the bacon, cooking for about 5 minutes, until crispy. Transfer the cooked bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel and set aside. Return the pan with the rendered fat to the stove top for future use.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Drop the peas into the water and cook them for 5 minutes. Transfer them to a strainer with a slotted spoon or a spider basket. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook for 10 minutes, or until al dente.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the bacon fat in the sauté pan over medium heat. Add the peas and asparagus, and sauté for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the basil, and set aside.
- Whisk together the eggs and milk. Have the egg mixture, vegetables and bacon ready to toss with very hot pasta.
- Quickly drain the pasta and transfer immediately to a large serving bowl. Pour the eggs and cheese on top of the pasta, and toss vigorously to coat the strands and gently cook the eggs, forming a creamy sauce. Add the vegetables and bacon, and continue tossing to incorporate them. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Portion the spaghetti on plates and ladle any sauce left in the bowl over each serving. Grate additional cheese on top if you like.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 430, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 64 grams, Fat 11 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 19 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 447 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. This means using fresh vegetables, high-quality pasta, and flavorful cheese.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Cook it al dente, which means it should be slightly firm to the bite.
- Use a large skillet or pot to cook the pasta and vegetables. This will help to prevent overcrowding and ensure that the vegetables cook evenly.
- Add the cheese and eggs to the pasta and vegetables while they are still hot. This will help the cheese to melt and create a creamy sauce.
- Season the pasta to taste with salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or dried herbs.
- Serve the pasta immediately, topped with additional cheese and herbs, if desired.
Conclusion:
Spring green spaghetti carbonara is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover vegetables. This dish is sure to please everyone at the table, and it is a great way to enjoy the flavors of spring.
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