Creamy Bacon & Mushroom Carbonara with Parmesan

Creamy Bacon & Mushroom Carbonara with Parmesan

Ready in 35 minutes • Serves 6
This dish most recently appeared in Bargain Box (5 Nights For 6) on Sunday, December 25, 2022.
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There are few things in life more satisfying than a bowl of pasta. This creamy bacon and mushroom carbonara has just the right amount of flavour, and with cauliflower and spinach in the mix, it's got a veggie element too!

Ingredients

Pasta

  • 1 pack spaghetti
  • 1 drizzle of oil

To Serve

  • 70g grated Parmesan

Carbonara

  • 1 cauliflower half, finely chopped
  • 400g mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 2 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 drizzle of oil
  • 3 Tbsp butter
  • 3 Tbsp flour
  • 3 cup milk
  • 1 cup reserved pasta water
  • 150g baby spinach
  • 400g bacon, diced 2cm

Steps

  1. Boil a pot of salted water. Dice bacon 2cm. Finely chop cauliflower. Slice mushrooms. Mince garlic. Set aside separately.
  2. Heat oil in a frypan on high heat. Cook bacon for about 8 mins, until browned. Add garlic, cauliflower and mushrooms and cook for about 5 mins, until starting to colour.
  3. Cook pasta in pot of boiling water for about 10 mins, until tender. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain pasta and return to pot. Toss with oil to prevent sticking.
  4. Add butter to pan with bacon and cook for about 30 secs, until melted. Stir in flour and cook 2 mins. Add milk and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, stirring, until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat. Combine sauce with drained pasta and spinach. Pan not large enough for the pasta? You can also add the sauce and the drained pasta back into the pot instead. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Like a thinner sauce? Add a little extra pasta water.
  5. Plate up pasta. Sprinkle over Parmesan. Enjoy!

Nutritional Information

Energy 2904 kj
694 kcal
Protein 32.0g
Carbohydrate 71.1g
Fat 29.8g