Quick Pasta alla Carbonara with Peas and Bacon
This Pasta alla Carbonara with Peas and Bacon a favorite quick, easy and inexpensive comfort food that's ready in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 4slices thick-cut bacon (about 1/4 lb)
- 1 clovegarlic (peeled and smashed)
- 1heaping teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper (plus more for sprinkling)
- ½ lbpasta
- 1 largeegg plus 2 egg yolks (room temperature)
- ½ cupfinely grated pecorino romano cheese (plus extra for sprinkling)
- ½ cupfinely grated parmesan cheese (plus extra for sprinkling)
- 1 cupfrozen peas (defrosted at room temperature)
- 1 tablespoonfinely chopped italian flat-leaf parsley (optional)
Directions
- 1
Bring a large pot of water up to a boil. Add the bacon to a large skillet at room temperature and bring it up to medium heat. Sauté the bacon for about 2-3 minutes or until it starts to render out, then add in the garlic clove and black pepper.
- 2
Continue to cook until the bacon becomes crisp and the garlic is light golden brown. Remove the garlic clove if you desire (I leave it in).
- 3
Add about about a tablespoon of salt to the boiling water, then add the pasta and give it a stir. Cook the pasta according to package directions, but remove it one minute before the recommended time to ensure it stays al dente.
- 4
While the pasta cooks, whisk together the eggs and grated cheese in a medium bowl.
- 5
Right before the pasta is done, scoop out a few cups of pasta water, then drain the pasta noodles and add it to the pan with the bacon. Place the pan over medium-high heat and toss the pasta around in the bacon fat for about 1-2 minutes.
- 6
Add a splash of hot reserved pasta water to the egg mixture and whisk, then add the hot pasta to the bowl and toss quickly so the eggs don't scramble. Continue mixing until the heat of the pasta forms a rich, thick sauce.
- 7
Add the peas and continue tossing until everything is combined. Thin it out with more pasta water or thicken it up with more cheese as needed, then taste and adjust seasoning.
- 8
Transfer the pasta to plates, then sprinkle parsley, extra parmesan and black pepper on top. Serve immediately.