Spaghetti Squash Pasta Carbonara

I always love pasta carbonara, and while easy and quick to make, sometimes it's just too rich and too heavy.  Carbonara has a lovely creaminess about it that comes from eggs, when combined with the pasta make a fantastic sauce. I wondered how it would work with spaghetti squash instead.  

We loved this, but admitted it is not exactly the same as real pasta.... maybe better because you are not left feeling so full and sluggish.  The squash doesn't thicken the sauce like real pasta, so the texture is slightly juicier than normal.... but still delightful and way better for you.


Don't worry too much about the raw eggs in this dish, if everything is super hot, when you combine everything with the eggs they will be fully cooked before you serve it.


Serves about 4
Ingredients:
1 medium spaghetti squash, shredded
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup bacon, salami or other meat (optional)
2 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 cup zucchini, sliced or chopped
3/4 cup peas
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup Parmesan, grated
Salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste

Microwave the whole spaghetti squash for 15-20 minutes, remove the seeds and the strip of darker orange pithy stuff. 

Using a fork shred up the squash until you have about 4-5 cups of 'spaghetti'.  Place in a microwave safe bowl.

Beat 2 eggs completely, and set aside.  Have Parmesan grated and ready to go.

In a fry pan over medium high heat, saute your bacon (salami, proscuitto or ham) using a little olive oil, if needed. Add the mushrooms, sauteing to get a little browness on the mushrooms, about 4-5 minutes.  Add the garlic and the zucchini and saute 2-3 minutes more.  (I like my zucchini on the lightly cooked side).  Add the frozen green peas, and heat until they are thawed and completely warmed. 

Microwave your spaghetti squash to make sure it is really hot.  Add to the saute pan and add the beaten eggs.  Quickly combine the mixture.  Add about 2/3 of the parmesan and mix too.  

Divide unto serving plates and sprinkle with more Parmesan as desired.


Here's some other Spaghetti Squash recipes that we like:
Spaghetti Squash, Arugula and Tomato Salad

Pasta Puttanesca Revisted for Summer

Spaghetti with Sun-Dried Tomato-Almond Pesto