This week I was going through pictures from our trip to Italy last May. What a fabulous vacation! As I reminisced about the time we spent in this glorious country I got a craving for some pasta, and of course I am not one to resist a craving! I decided to make Spaghetti Carbonara.
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Spaghetti Carbonara is a quick, easy and delicious meal but I decided to do a little something less than traditional by adding spicy meat and greens. I paired it with my Heirloom salad and another “Casual Friday Menu” was born: “Spaghetti Carbonara with Spicy Italian Sausage and Rocket”
Carbonara is a pasta dish that originated in Lazio, Rome. Carbonara sauce usually contains eggs, cheese, garlic and occasionally cream. It’s very subtly flavored but I was in the mood for something with a little more kick, hence the addition of spicy Italian sausage. I tossed in a handful of ‘rocket’ for color. You may be wondering what ‘rocket’ is…in the States rocket is known as good old fashioned arugula. When in Italy we learned a few things about the names of certain foods that we didn’t know before, on menus arugula is often called ‘rocket’ and ham, bacon and pancetta are often listed as ‘speck’ which is actually a German word.
Spaghetti Carbonara takes only minutes to make because the sauce is not cooked. While pasta cooks you simply whisk together cream, egg yolks, lemon zest and Parmesan and then toss with piping hot pasta! The addition of sausage adds a few minutes to the process but it’s still a complete meal in under 20 minutes!
I pair this pasta with my Heirloom Salad to make this ‘Casual Friday Menu’ a ‘delicious, healthy Friday menu’ as well!
The Recipe: Spaghetti Carbonara with Spicy Italian Sausage and Rocket
Tips and must haves!: You will need a large stock pot, a microplane for grating Parmesan, and a good quality sea salt (I but the 3 lb tub, it’s a huge money saver!) Sometimes for more flavor I sauté the garlic in the sausage pan for a minute or two after removing sausage, optional but it sure does add flavor!
A traditional Carbonara Pasta with some non traditional additions!
- 4 Italian sausage cooked and sliced I use spicy but you can also use medium or mild
- 16 ounces spaghetti prepared to package instructions
- 2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3 cloves garlic finely minced
- 5 egg yolks
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- Black pepper and sea salt to taste
- Zest of one medium lemon
- ½ cup pasta water reserved for thinning sauce you may need a little, or none
- Large handful 'rocket' also known as arugula
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Place a large stock pot of water to boil.
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Place sausage in pan on medium/high heat. Cook for several minutes turning so all four sides are browned. After all sides are browned, place lid on pan and cook five more minutes or until cooked thru (about 15 minutes total) Remove sausage from pan and slice. (Sometimes for more flavor I sauté the garlic in the sausage pan for a minute or two after removing sausage. Optional, but it sure adds flavor!)
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While sausage is cooking, prepare sauce and cook pasta to package instructions.
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Place egg yolks, cream, lemon zest, garlic and cheese in a large bowl and whisk. When pasta is al dente, reserve 1/2 cup pasta water in a small cup and strain pasta in colander (do not rinse). Place pasta in the bowl with cream/egg mixture. Toss well. If sauce is too thick add a little pasta water to thin. (You may need a little, you may need a lot, you may need none at all) Salt and pepper to taste. Add sausage and rocket (arugula) and toss. Serve immediately.
I hope you and your family enjoy this gorgeous meal! And if you do please subscribe to my free weekly recipe newsletter (upper right side bar just under my photo) and share on social media. Thanks~ Linda Spiker
MAY I PLEASE ASK A LITTLE FAVOR?
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Ohhh my husband would love that sausage! Love this idea – I love carbonara!
I am drooling…I love pasta dishes.
Awww man do I love me some carbonara and your version looks delicioso!!
Thanks…it was, if I do say so myself:)
This is so beautiful! I love everything about it. Wish I had some to eat today.
Thanks Emily:)
Ahhhh, man! I want that serving platter!!! GORGEOUS!!!
Well, I have conveniently placed a link in the post…it can be yours:)
So many of my favorites! Looks amazing!!
This looks fabulous! I love the recipe too, sounds pretty easy.
Ooooh! My husband would love this! Spaghetti carbonara is one of his favorite dishes, and he loves spice sausage, too!
Make it girl!
I’ve never heard of this and it sounds lovely! I’ll have to try it sometime soon, we love pasta around here.
Linda:
I just saw your name on a list of outgoing shipments over here at Shabby Apple (my wife is the owner) and wanted to check to see if you were the same Linda Spiker from Sherman Oaks/Encino days. And you are! You have a lovely blog. It makes me hungry. Please say hi to Steve and thanks to him for putting me on the A-Team all those years ago! It was a great ice-breaker in job interviews during law school.
Carl LeSueur
Oh my goodness! So nice to hear from you. Your wife owns Shabby Apple? Small world. Our oldest, Chris is a lawyer too. I hope all is well with your family. Thanks for stopping by to say hi!
Absolutely love your twist, the recipe sounds just delicious! Your pictures are amazing too, talk about eat with your eyes – just beautiful!
I want to come over for dinner!!
I love seeing wonderful family dinner recipes. Your Carbonara recipe is the best looking dinner recipe.
I love that you used the sausage in this dish. Also, I’m laughing just a bit because I only learned this summer that rocket is arugula. Still a silly name to me.
I learned that in Italy in 2014! I think it’s funny too.
Carbonara is one of my favorite pasta dishes!