Spaghetti Carbonara with Spicy Italian Sausage and Rocket!
A traditional Carbonara Pasta with some non traditional additions!
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
Italian
Keyword
easy pasta recipe, kid-friendly recipes, weeknight dinner
Prep Time15minutes
Cook Time10minutes
Total Time25minutes
Servings4servings
AuthorLinda Spiker
Ingredients
4Italian sausage cooked and slicedI use spicy but you can also use medium or mild
16ouncesspaghettiprepared to package instructions
2TExtra Virgin Olive Oil
3clovesgarlicfinely minced
5egg yolks
3/4cupheavy cream
½cupfreshly grated Parmesan
Black pepper and sea salt to taste
Zest of one medium lemon
½cuppasta water reserved for thinning sauceyou may need a little, or none
Large handful 'rocket' also known as arugula
Instructions
Pasta directions.
Place a large stock pot of water to boil.
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!)
While sausage is cooking, prepare sauce and cook pasta to package instructions.
Sauce prep:
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.