Butternut Squash Carbonara
Category
Main Course
Prep
25 minutes
Cook
40 minutes
Style
American
Technique
Roasting
Diet Friendly
Gluten-Free
Daily Recipe: February 24, 2023
This gluten-free recipe is perfect to warm up chilly evenings. The hero ingredient is butternut squash, which is in season in February, and has a nutty, sweet flavor which pairs perfectly with the other ingredients. The final dish is a balance of flavors with a smoky and slightly sweet taste. The recipe is also vegetarian.
Ingredients (for 4)
- Butternut squash - 1 medium-sized - peeled, cubed and roasted
- Gluten-free spaghetti - 8 oz.
- Bacon - 4 slices - diced
- Onion - 1 small - chopped
- Garlic - 2 cloves - minced
- Egg yolks - 2 large
- Grated parmesan cheese - 1/2 cup
- Smoked paprika - 1 tbsp.
- Olive oil - 1 tbsp.
- Salt - 1 tsp.
- Black pepper - 1/2 tsp.
Preparation
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Step 1 - 🌡️🎛️🍲Preheat the oven to 375°F and roast butternut squash cubes coated in olive oil and sea salt until tender, about 30-35 mins.
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Step 2 - 🍝🍲🧂Cook spaghetti in salted water until al dente, according to package directions. Drain and set aside, reserving a bit of the cooking water for the sauce.
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Step 3 - 🥓🍳🍲Fry the diced bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper-towel lined plate.
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Step 4 - 🧅🧄🍲Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the same skillet and cook until softened and fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
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Step 5 - 🥚🧀🥣In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined.
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Step 6 - 🧂🌶️🥚Add smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper to the egg mixture, and whisk to combine.
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Step 7 - 🍲🌶️🥓Add butternut squash, bacon, and onion mixture to the egg mixture, and stir to coat everything well.
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Step 8 - 🍝🌶️🧅Add pasta to the skillet with the onion mixture, and toss to coat with the remaining bacon grease. Remove from heat.
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Step 9 - 🥚🥣🍜Pour egg mixture over the pasta and toss quickly with tongs. The sauce will cook and thicken from the heat of the pasta. If the sauce is too thick, add a few spoonfuls of pasta water to reach the desired consistency.
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Step 10 - 🍝🤲🌿Divide the pasta among the plates, sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley, and serve hot.
Additional
For a spicier version, sprinkle some chili flakes over the dish just before serving. For a vegan version, replace bacon with shiitake mushrooms or vegan bacon bits. Kids can help roast the butternut squash cubes and whisk the egg mixture.