Carbonara is one of my favorite pasta dishes and I had been craving it. A carbonara pasta is normally made from an egg yolk, pecorino romano, bacon and pepper. Asparagus is in season and I was thinking that it was similar in shape to penne pasta and that and asparagus penne carbonara would be really nice. Carbonara is really easy to make and it comes together in less time that it takes to cook the pasta. The asparagus carbonara was really good! It was a nice spring twist on a classic!
Asparagus Carbonara
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes Servings: 2
ingredients
- 2 ounces penne (gluten free for gluten free)
- 4 slices bacon (chopped)
- 1 handful asparagus
- 1 clove garlic (chopped)
- pepper to taste
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1/4 cup pecorino romano
- 1 tablespoon parsley (chopped)
directions
- Start cooking the penne.
- Fry the bacon in a pan.
- Cut the asparagus into penne shaped pieces.
- Drain most of the fat from the pan but reserve some to cook the asparagus.
- Add the asparagus, garlic and pepper and toss to coat in the bacon grease.
- Mix the egg yolk, heavy cream and pecorino romano in a bowl.
- Drain the cooked pasta reserving some of the water.
- Add the pasta to the pan and toss.
- Remove the pan from the heat and wait for the sizzling to stop.
- Add the egg mixture and toss to coat.
- Add a bit of the pasta water and toss to mix and coat.
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Asparagus + pasta = incredible.
Sans bacon, this is a perfect use of the asparagus I currently have on hand.
I bet the bacon is perfect with that asparagus. It sounds so good together.
Nice! But you do your carbonara like in some parts of Northern Italy (with cream). Traditional carbonara is from Rome, and no cream on it. However I like being creative, and this version with asparagus looks very good!
This looks fantastic, and incredibly easy, too. mmmm, bacon and cheeeese…
This is the second post I’ve read today using bacon, asparagus and eggs. I think it’s a great flavor combo! The pasta looks delicious!
I think many carbonaras have turned me off because people don’t use good-quality cheese or overcook it. Your recipe on the other hand, looks lovely, and the addition of asparagus is great! 🙂
Love it!
Perfect! i love asparagus in pasta and you can never go wrong with carbonara.
Funny I should see this today Kevin.
I saw Ruth Rogers from the fabulous Italian Cafe on Food TV this morning. She made carbonara. She didn’t use cream.
I want to try it so I will and if it is as good as hers I’ll post it for your PPN.
Good luck
i would love to have some!! yum!
Sounds awesome! Carbonara is one of my favorite pasta recipes, and the addition to asparagus makes perfect sense. Can’t believe I never tried it before!
I have been considering making a carbonara. I would probably like it much more with vegetables like this.
Asparagus, bacon and cheese pasta oh my just perfection on a plate mmmm
Rosie x
I <3 carbonara!
catching up on your last handful of posts and once again – wow. WOW. i am a carbonara fan beyond words. and the rhubarb crumble – WOW. and the mango chicken sandwich just looked wonderful. it’s endless…
Kevin, thanks so much for this recipe. I’ve tried to make this before and had some raw egg show up… your version would eliminate that. It looks delicious.
Yum! Sounds delightful. Carbonara is one of my favorite sauces, but so underappreciated in the US.
Asparagus is a nice touch. It makes carbonara seem like health food. Delicious health food!
Fabulous, carbonara is one of my very favourite things (notice I said things, not just foods)…I like your twist! Looks gorgeous.
YUM! I love asparagus and bacon… This is a perfect meal.
Looks great Kevin! I love the asparagus in it……altogether one YUMMY dish!
Great concept Kevin, it looks really good!
How have I managed to miss out on carbonara all this time?!?! It sounds absolutely wonderful, and really easy! I can’t wait to try this.
This is right up my ally! Am I glad I clicked on your link from Elise Bauer’s blog! Your recipes/pics look AMAZING!!! Can’t wait to try some out!
Wow im amazed yet again. I wish I could make something so spectacular for dinner!
You’re right…this does look like a great twist on Carbonara!
I started to like the taste of asparagus in this past few years,
Loved the dish!
looks great, I could very easily eat pasta every night! 🙂
This is my kind of pasta, it looks delicious Kevin.
Okay, Yum. Ya know. I have never had Carbonara. I know. It’s amazing. I married a chef who studied in Italy and I have NEVER had Carbonara.
What the hell is wrong with me?
this looks wonderful kevin… i love this idea!
You know, you always have the most amazing looking pasta dishes! Sometimes I shy away from carbonara because its so heavy but this looks light and fresh.
Kevin, this dish looks delicious. I love how much you use asparagus. It’s such a versatile vegetable.
i love carbonara anything ^_^
I love all of the different ways you’ve been using asparagus!
This is one of my all time favorite pasta dishes! And the addition of asparagus sound yummy.
I love Carbonara’s. This one is one I need to try! :]
Great choice and thanks again for hosting Presto Pasta Nights.
Well I just had my first carbonara thanks to this recipe. Delicious!
thanks for visiting me. and, you asparagus carbonara looks great.
I don’t even know how I got to your page…but I am so glad I did..this looks devine, and thank you for posting a single serve recipie…cause I am the only one in my house that would eat this…
Made this today for lunch. So yummy. My daughter & her friend gobbled it.
Kevin, this is not only one of my favorite recipes from you but one of my favorite recipes EVER! So easy, quick, and delicious it's almost unreal. The boyfriend has already asked me to cook this again tomorrow 🙂
Silly question for you, though: how is the sauce safe to eat? As far as I can tell, the egg isn't actually cooked at any point, but obviously I didn't get sick so there must be something going on I don't understand.
Once again, bravo on the recipe! Will definitely be trying more of yours!
Steph: Glad you enjoy it so much! It is definitely one of my spring/summer time favourite dishes!
This dish tries to run the fine line between cooking the egg yolk sauce enough without scrambling it. The yolks are cooked when they are tossed with the still hot pasta, asparagus and pasta water in the hot pan.
i am italian, and i have to say that the original carbonara is NOT with the pecorino romano but with the PARMIGIANO REGGIANO, and NOT with bacon but with GUANCIALE, wich are pretty different things, and ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT CREAM or garlic.
adding asparagus could be a nice idea… but don't try to call it carbonara, it sounds awful to an italian!!!!!
if you will ever come to italy, you will taste the difference!!
asparagus makes my pee smell funny
Just made this or dinner. YUM!!!!