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Meatless Spaghetti Carbonara

I have been making meringues, and I had two egg yolk left over. I also had few slices of this to finish.




Carbonara requires pancetta or guanciale, in the UK most people seem to make it with bacon. I cut the vegetarian slices into small pieces and I fried them until crispy with olive oil, adding a very generous sprinkle of smoked salt and one of smoked paprika. They tasted like the crunchy smoked bacon I used to eat in the UK over 22 years ago,!!! (Well, I am not sure, I may have forgotten the taste of bacon!).

I cooked the spaghetti al dente, drain them and put them in the pan with the fake bacon (and all the olive oil from the cooking, added plenty of freshly grated parmesan cheese, and the two egg yolk. Stirred. It was incredibly good and filling!!! Not an everyday meal, but once in a while...:-)

Next I may try to work out a cheese-less and egg-less version...I wander how to do it!! Suggestions from vegan friends are always welcomed!

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini©
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Comments

  1. JoMay 28, 2010 at 8:17 AM

    It looks pretty much like the real McCoy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. PranisKitchenMay 28, 2010 at 3:23 PM

    the vegetarian slices thats looks really grt..will try to find it here..nice spagetti looks deicious and yumm

    ReplyDelete
  3. DipikaMay 28, 2010 at 7:07 PM

    wow looks de-li-ci-ous.....and tempting..and the idea of using veggies is awesome...sounds gr8 for veggie lovers...

    Glad to follow u :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. DipikaMay 28, 2010 at 7:09 PM

    and yes..thanks for dropping in ur comment...do try the Mushroom pilaf/ pulao...u will love it :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. AlessandraMay 29, 2010 at 6:05 PM

    Thank you all for your comments :-) and visits ;-)

    ReplyDelete

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