One of the really great ways that you can stretch your food budget further is to use expensive ingredients sparingly. Who doesn't love bacon? But oh my goodness! It can sure be expensive. Thank Heavens is has so much flavor and you can really use that to your advantage and make a little bit go a really long way. That is what this recipe does.
I have never made Spaghetti Carbonara before, in fact, I didn't even really know what it was until I found the recipe and did some research. I thought it was a cream based sauce - it turns out that it is just a really special way to make bacon / eggs and pasta - with cheese! How delicious, cheap and easy does that sound!!
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces spaghetti
2 large eggs
3/4 cup grated Parmesan ( I used an Italian Cheese blend)
4 slices bacon, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
( I doubled the whole darn thing!)
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes; reserve excess fat.
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; reserve 1/2 cup water and drain well.
In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and Parmesan; set aside.
Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in pasta and egg mixture, and gently toss to combine; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Add reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.
The really cool part of this recipe is that not only are the flavors amazing together, but that it comes together so quickly. The eggs are cooked when mixed with the warm pasta, and the cheese melting makes it creamy and delicious.
It feels like a fancy dish, but really is made with fridge and pantry staples and comes together in a flash!
