Zucchini Carbonara: Creamy, Crispy, Irresistible!
Zucchini Carbonara: Savor this fresh twist on a classic, featuring crispy prosciutto and creamy burrata. Master the silky sauce in under 30 minutes for a delightful meal.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces prosciutto, torn
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- olive oil, for drizzling
- 2 zucchini, or yellow summer squash, grated or cut into thin strands
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup grated pecorino cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 12 ounces pasta (e.g., spaghetti, fettuccine)
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
- 4 ounces fresh burrata cheese, torn
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the prosciutto in an even layer. Add the garlic and toss with olive oil. Bake 8-10 minutes, until the prosciutto is crisp and the garlic roasted.
- Meanwhile, place the zucchini in a colander. Toss with a tiny pinch of salt.
- Whisk together the eggs, parmesan, pecorino, basil, thyme, chili flakes, lemon zest, salt, and pepper in a large serving bowl.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta until al dente. Before draining, scoop out about 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain directly over the zucchini. This will heat the zucchini.
- Immediately add the hot pasta to the egg/cheese mixture, tossing quickly (to ensure the eggs do not scramble) until the eggs thicken and create a sauce. Thin the sauce with a bit of the reserved pasta water, until it reaches your desired consistency. Be careful when adding the water, the zucchini will naturally release some water into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve topped with freshly torn burrata, prosciutto, and herbs. Enjoy!
Notes
- For a perfect carbonara sauce, ensure your eggs are at room temperature. This helps them temper gently with the hot pasta, preventing scrambling. - When adding pasta water, do so gradually. I've found that sometimes the zucchini releases more moisture than expected, so less pasta water might be needed initially.
- Internal temperature for cooked eggs in the sauce should reach 160°F (71°C) to ensure safety, though the residual heat usually handles this. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.
- Internal temperature for cooked eggs in the sauce should reach 160°F (71°C) to ensure safety, though the residual heat usually handles this. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.