Thanksgiving Ham Carbonara

Thanksgiving Ham Carbonara

If you have never attempted the carbonara, it is MUCH easier than you think. Restaurant Quality, without the restaurant.

PREP TIME: 50 MIN    serves 4           

Ingredients:

1 lb Angel Hair Pasta, dried

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 cup cubed, cooked ham

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup margarine, melted

2 egg yolks, beaten

1/2 cup Fresh Parsley, minced

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

Fresh cracked black pepper to taste

Optional– cooked peas, mushrooms, etc.

Procedure:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil generously seasoned with salt. Cook pasta according to directions, decrease cook time by 2 mins.

2. While pasta is cooking, in a large skillet, saute onion in oil. Add ham, broth, and margarine and gently heat. Add optional ingredients here if desired,

3. Using tongs or a small strainer, scoop pasta out of water rather than fully draining pasta in colander and add to skillet with ham– reserving pasta water.  Wet pasta creates creamy sauce.

4. Take 1-2 tsp of warm pasta water and whisk into beaten eggs to temper.

5. Add egg mixture to pasta and ham and immediately stir using tongs to thoroughly mix and coat pasta with eggs to cook eggs without scrambling. Thin as needed with pasta water.

6. Add parsley, parmesan and black pepper and toss.

7. To plate, pull portion of pasta with tongs and hoover over plate. Slowly lower pasta while turning plate. Optionally, top with more parsley, parmesan, black pepper or lemon. Enjoy immediately.