I had eggs and cheese. Oh, and even better, I had a package of Bucatini - my favorite noodle. There's something about that long, slender, hollow tube that I can't resist. I think it must be its ability to trap the sauce inside. I didn't have bacon, but I had prosciutto. That would work. For a good Carbonara, that's really all you need. Maybe some black pepper to grind over the top.
But, while I was rummaging, I found a good chunk of butternut squash. It was a third of one that I roasted to use for infusing vodka (more on that next week). I decided that while I'm in the throes of the 12 weeks of winter squash, I would add it to the dish. However, I did not want to wait for the oven to preheat and squash cubes to roast, so I thought I'd try grating it instead.
I also have fresh basil growing in the house, thanks to my AeroGarden. Just a tiny smattering accentuated the pepper ground over the top. It was basically a plate of rich and creamy comfort...on a plate, in front of me...in less than 30 minutes. Consider my psyche untroubled once again.
Butternut Squash and Prosciutto Bucatini Carbonara
Creamy Carbonara sauce coats Bucatini pasta studded with prosciutto and flecks of orange butternut squash.
by
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 16 minutes
Keywords: entree cheese eggs prosciutto squash Italian
Ingredients (serves 4-6)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 ounces prosciutto, rolled & sliced
- 1 cup (4.8 ounces) peeled & grated Butternut squash
- 2 fat cloves garlic, minced
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound Bucatini pasta
- freshly ground or cracked black pepper
- fresh herbs (such as sage, parsley, or basil), optional
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add prosciutto ribbons and cook, stirring occasionally, until the prosciutto has crisped up, ~5 minutes. Add the grated squash and garlic and cook until soft, another 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Beat the eggs in a large measuring cup with a spout; stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese; set aside.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil (this can be started before you start everything else, but you do NOT want the pasta to be cooked until you have the other things ready). Add the Bucatini, and cook until al dente (according to package instructions). Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water.
Immediately place the hot pasta back into the pan and pour the egg/cheese mixture over the top. Toss pasta in the mixture using two large forks, until it has coated everything and turned into a creamy sauce. Toss in the reserved prosciutto/squash mixture. Thin the sauce a little, using the reserved pasta water, until it is smooth and creamy.
Serve piled high on a plate with black pepper ground or cracked over the top, and a few fresh herbs (small sprigs or chopped), if you wish. Enjoy immediately.
