Easy Ham and Garlic Carbonara
This dish comes together almost effortlessly, and so versatile! A great answer for a weeknight meal!
Equipment
- Skillet
- Saucepan
- Kitchen knife
- Large mixing bowl
- Kitchen Tongs
Ingredients
- 2 servings Spaghetti Noodles
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 1/2 cups Cubed Ham
- 3 medium Egg Yolks
- 1/4 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1/2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Coarse Black Pepper
- Additional Parmesan Cheese for serving
- Parsley (optional for garnish)
- Basil (optional for garnish)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Bring water in a saucepan to a boil and start noodles cooking.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil and add cubed ham. As this becomes browned, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- In a large mixing bowl, place separated egg yolks, parmesan cheese, pepper, crushed red pepper and salt. Stir until well combined.
- Without draining noodles, when cooked to liking, use tongs to grab noodles. Allow water to drain but not thoroughly. Add to egg mixture and stir to combine, but be careful not to scramble eggs.
- Using remaining pasta water, add tsp at a time to create a creamy consistency with the sauce-about 2-3 tsp.
- Scrape ham, garlic, and any cooking oil into the noodles and combine. Serve with fresh parmesan and any herbs of your choice. Enjoy! Variation: this is a base for endless potential! Try adding chopped asparagus, peas, mushrooms, or wilted spinach! Also would be great served with spaghetti squash or zoodles!