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Cozy Cabbage Carbonara

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A comforting and easy carbonara recipe featuring caramelized cabbage, smoky pancetta, and a creamy egg-cheese sauce. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners with a fresh twist on a classic.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups shredded green cabbage (about 150g)
  • 4 ounces pancetta or thick-cut bacon, diced (115g)
  • 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine (225g)
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 100g)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Optional: fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Shred the cabbage finely (about 4 cups). Dice the pancetta into small pieces. Mince the garlic and finely grate the Parmesan cheese. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
  2. Cook 8 oz (225g) of spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  3. While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced pancetta and cook until crispy and browned, about 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add shredded cabbage to the skillet, tossing to coat with fat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cabbage softens and lightly caramelizes, about 4-5 minutes. It should smell sweet and look glossy.
  5. In a mixing bowl, whisk together 3 large eggs and 1 cup Parmesan cheese until smooth and creamy. Season with a pinch of salt and generous black pepper.
  6. Add drained pasta directly into the skillet with cabbage and pancetta. Toss to combine well over low heat.
  7. Remove skillet from heat. Slowly pour egg-cheese mixture over pasta, tossing quickly and continuously to create a creamy sauce. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to loosen the sauce. The sauce should coat the pasta smoothly without clumping.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. If desired, sprinkle a pinch of red pepper flakes and garnish with fresh parsley.

Notes

Remove skillet from heat before adding egg mixture to avoid scrambling. Use reserved pasta water to loosen sauce as needed. Use room temperature eggs for best sauce texture. For a richer sauce, add an extra egg yolk. Pancetta can be substituted with thick-cut bacon. For vegetarian version, replace pancetta with sautéed mushrooms or smoked tofu. Gluten-free pasta can be used to make the recipe gluten-free.

Nutrition

Keywords: cabbage carbonara, easy carbonara recipe, comforting dinner, pancetta pasta, creamy carbonara, quick weeknight meal

Find it online: https://emacrave.com/cozy-cabbage-carbonara-recipe-easy-perfect-comforting-dinner-idea/