No shame on the OG Carbonara game, but this one was a delishhh twist. I instead crisped up some Salami that I had in the fridge to substitute bacon (sorry to all of my amazing Italian Nonnas out there, please don’t come for me!!!!), also shout out to Trader Joe’s for your Spinach tortellini for being the base of this fab dish, you're my King! And of course I added a little zest to add a bit of UMPH to it.
Hope you can take the time of your Summer to try this one -- it's a goody for sure!
Ingredients:
5 slices thick-cut Salami about ¼ lb — chopped!
1 clove garlic peeled and smashed
1 heaping teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper plus more for sprinkling
Trader Joe’s Spinach Tortellini (it’s addicting, heads up to your tummy and your time)
1 large egg plus 2 egg yolks room temperature
1/2 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese plus extra for sprinkling
3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese plus extra for sprinkling
1 cup frozen peas defrosted (ain’t nobody got time to break out your own peas)
1 full LARGE lemon with the full lemon's zest!
Instructions:
Boil Water: Bring a medium sized pot of salted water to a boil.
Sauté Salami: While the water is heating, place the chopped salami in a large pan at room temperature. Gradually bring it to medium heat, sautéing the salami for 2-3 minutes until it starts to render. Then, add the garlic clove and a pinch of black pepper.
Crisp Salami: Continue to cook until the salami becomes crisp and the garlic is a light golden brown. You can remove the garlic clove at this point if you prefer, though I like to leave it in.
Prepare Egg Mixture: While the Salami is crisping and the delicious scent is taking up your kitchen, whisk together the eggs and grated cheese in a medium bowl.
Cook Tortellini: Add about about a tablespoon of salt to the boiling water, then add the tortellini and give it a stir. NOTE: this tortellini literally cooks in 2-3 minutes so I only pop in for literally 60 seconds before I pop it into the pan with the Salami.
Combine Tortellini and Salami: Scoop out the tortellini after that quick 60 second timeline, and add it to the pan with the crisped salami. Place the pan over medium-high heat and toss the pasta around in the Salami fat for about 1-2 minutes.
Mix with Egg Mixture: Add a splash of the hot reserved pasta water to the egg mixture and whisk. Quickly add the hot pasta to the bowl and toss so the eggs don't scramble.
ZEST it Up: Add in the full lemon's juice and full outer zest as well. Continue mixing until the heat from the pasta forms a rich, thick sauce.
Add Peas: Add the peas and continue tossing until everything is well combined. Adjust the consistency with more pasta water if needed or add more cheese to thicken. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.
Serve: Transfer the pasta to plates and add some extra grated parmesan and black pepper on top. Serve immediately. HOPE YOU ENJOY!!!
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