Zucchini carbonara

I always loved carbonara pasta sauce, but I have never prepared with courgette until now and I can declare, it's gooood. The original Italian carbonara sauce is made with egg yolks, cream, parmesan and seasoning. In this recipe, you have to fry the bacon with the zucchini slices, then mix it with cooked pasta and the carbonara sauce. The fresh thyme gives the pasta a better taste.

I read this easy zucchini recipe in on of Jamie Oliver's cookbook. I prepared it and wasn't disappointed: this zucchini carbonara is easy to prepare, is ready in 30 minutes and it's really delicious.

We loved this amazing dinner and I recommend it to everybody who likes pasta dishes. It's tasty, creamy, easy and absolutely fabulous. Thank you, Jamie! :)

Check out my version of zucchini carbonara, based on Jamie's recipe.

Level: medium
Calories: average
Cost: medium

Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Total time: 25 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 400 g penne
• 4 little zucchini
• 4 slices bacon or pancetta
• 1 bunch of fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt
• pepper
• for the carbonara sauce:
• 4 egg yolks
• 80 ml (1/3 cup) cream
• 100 g Parmesan

Instructions

1. In salted boiling water cook the pasta until is "al dente".
2. While the pasta is cooking, chop the bacon and cut the zucchini in pasta-size slices.
3. In a large pan fry the chopped bacon with one tablespoon olive oil until is brown and crispy. Add the zucchini slices, season with salt and pepper, stir it well. Sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves and cook it until the zucchini is softened.
4. Let's prepare the carbonara sauce! In a deep bowl put the egg yolks and beat them with the cream and the half of the parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Stir it until is creamy, then put it aside.
5. When the pasta is cooked, drain it, but keep a little of the cooking water for the sauce.
6. Toss the drained pasta into the pan with fried bacon and zucchini, remove it from the heat.
7. Add the carbonara sauce and a little from the reserved cooking water, stir together quickly.
8. Serve them immediately with the rest of the parmesan on the top of the dish.

Enjoy!