Leek Bacon And Mushroom Carbonara No Cream Recipes

THE CREAMIEST NO CREAM CARBONARA PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of water to boil and cook your pasta following the packet directions. Stop cooking just as it becomes al dente, because it will keep on cooking in the next few steps. Drain, reserving some pasta water for later.
• Crack the eggs in a small bowl and add the grated cheese. Whisk until evenly blended, then set aside.
• Fry up the bacon or pancetta pieces in a large frying pan over medium heat. No added oil required!
• Transfer the drained pasta into the frying pan with the bacon/pancetta and toss through the bacon using a spoon and fork.
• Reduce the heat to the lowest setting or OFF (important!), then pour in your egg and cheese mixture and quickly toss it through the pasta until evenly coated, so it doesn't scramble.
• Transfer into individual serving bowls and serve immediately. Optional: Garnish with a sprinkling of black pepper and sea salt, and/or some reserved grated cheese.

LEEK, BACON AND MUSHROOM CARBONARA (NO CREAM)

Steps:

• Cut the bacon into 1cm squares, and cut the mushrooms into 1.5 to 2 cm chunks. Trim, wash and finely slice the leeks, Peel and mince the garlic (or use 4 tsps. of pre-minced garlic from a jar). Pick the thyme leaves from the stalks, if using fresh. Trim, wash and finely slice the leeks.
• In a large casserole dish or saucepan, fry the bacon over medium/low heat with a 1/2 tablespoon of oil for a few minutes. Then turn the heat up to medium/high and add the rest of the oil (1 tblsp). Once the oil has heated, add the mushrooms and sauté for 5 minutes or so. Remove the bacon and mushrooms and set aside.
• Add the butter to the pan and when melted, add the leeks, garlic and thyme. Stir around, (wiping up any bits of bacon and mushroom stuck to the pan) and sauté for a few minutes. Add 400ml of hot water, cover, bring to boil and then turn the heat to low. Simmer gently for 30 mins, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. (Add more water if it gets dry and sticks.).
• After 30 minutes of simmering the leeks, stir in the bacon and mushrooms, cover again and continue to simmer on low for another 10 mins while you cook the pasta, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. (Remove the lid to reduce the mixture if it looks too wet, and add more water if it gets dry and sticks.).
• While the leek, bacon and mushrooms continue to simmer, cook the pasta in a large pan according to the packet instructions, then drain, reserving a half a cup or so of the starchy cooking water.
• Season the leeks, bacon and mushrooms with sea salt and cracked black pepper and toss the drained pasta into the pan with the leeks etc. Stir thoroughly and set aside for 2 minutes, off the heat, to cool slightly, while you grate the cheese and lightly beat the eggs in a large mug (if the pan's too hot, it'll scramble the eggs; get it right and it'll be smooth, silky and deliciously elegant).
• Stir the cheese into the beaten egg mixture and add a splash of reserved cooking water to loosen the mixture. Pour the mixture over the pasta, tossing vigorously (the egg will cook in the residual heat). Adjust the consistency with extra cooking water, if needed.
• Serve in bowls with extra parmesan (and cracked black pepper, if you like).

NO CREAM VEGETARIAN CARBONARA

Steps:

• boil water and cook fettucine. drain and leave aside.
• add garlic and red onions to another pan. Cook until the onions have sweated through.
• add bacon and cook until brown, stirring occasionally.
• add mushrooms and place spinach on top. stir the ingredients until spinach has sweated down and mixed into the other ingredients. Add stock and pepper at the same time.
• Mix the cheese and egg in together roughly and stir into vegetables.
• Once mixture turns mushroom colour, add the fettucine and stir through.
• If you'd like a more cheesy taste, add some light mozzarella and mix through when hot.