In my next installment of "Who needs to spend $88.95 on a pasta maker when you can make it by hand just like an Italian great-nonna?", I present to you "Homemade Orecchiette in a Carbonara Sauce".
This is one of those dishes that makes you shout "Holla!!!!" It is the only carbonara recipe I have found that is not heavy. Instead, it is light, yet deliciously creamy. I added shiitake mushrooms and green peas to the recipe which already included leeks and smoky bacon. If you are not making the orecchiette from scratch, this dish takes all of 10 minutes to prepare.
TEN. MINUTES.
HOLLA!
Making homemade orecchiette is turning out to be second nature. The more I make homemade pasta, the more I live in delusions of grandeur, where I close my eyes and transport myself to a small flat in Rome, standing over my counter, covered in flour, with my windows opened wide as listen to the sounds of the streets below. I spent some time there one summer as I learned to teach English to foreign learners and ever since, I dream about one day returning to the city that I love so much.
But for now, dishes like this are the next best thing.
I wonder how to say "Holla!" in Italian...
Click here for the homemade orecchiette recipe.
4 slice applewood bacon, diced
2 medium leeks (white and pale green parts only), halved lengthwise then cut crosswise into 1/3" slices
10 ounces orecchiette
2 large eggs at room temperature
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus additional for serving
1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
1 cup sliced shiitake or cremini mushrooms
1/2 cup freshly shelled green peas
1 tablespoon olive oil
Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel to drain. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet if necessary. Add mushrooms and saute over medium heat about 3 minutes. Add green peas and saute for 2 more minutes. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and add leeks and sauté over about 6 minutes. Set aside.
Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid.
Whisk eggs and 1/2 cup Parmesan in medium bowl to blend; gradually whisk in 1/4 cup pasta cooking liquid. Add pasta to leeks and mushroom mixture in skillet and stir to heat. Remove skillet from heat. Pour egg mixture over pasta and stir until sauce is just creamy and eggs are no longer raw, about 2 minutes. (Return skillet to very low heat if egg mixture is runny; do not overcook or eggs will curdle.) Add some of remaining 1/4 cup pasta cooking liquid to pasta if needed to moisten. Stir in bacon and parsley. Serve pasta, passing additional cheese separately.
What an insanely gorgeous dish! Now I'm going to dream of making orechiette. Yours look perfect.
Posted by: Ashley | May 06, 2009 at 01:41 AM
Okay I just went and checked out the orecchiette recipe (and the chickpea sauce). Definitely making that after my finals!
Posted by: Ashley | May 06, 2009 at 01:45 AM
Oh snap... I have to make this. I've never made pasta by hand or by machine. I always by the premade stuff. If you can do it, then I can too.
Tasty looking meal you got there!!
Posted by: jenn | May 06, 2009 at 03:14 AM
I've always wanted to try making my own pasta. Yours looks delicious!
Posted by: Michele | May 06, 2009 at 06:33 AM
I am so impressed! This is a beautiful dish, different from the usual carbonara. I never even thought of using orecchiette and you made them yourself...incredible! Good Job!
Posted by: Michele | May 06, 2009 at 10:05 AM
This looks delicious! I have been wanting to make some homemade pasta lately, so I will check out your orecchiette recipe! That very well may cure me of my Barilla Plus addiction.
Posted by: Jen Schall @ My Kitchen Addiction | May 06, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Teanna - the more I read your blog the more I love it. This sounds so tasty and also not terribly awful for the waistline (which is important to me in a recipe)
And a tip to those who do not have time to make the homemade pasta - just throw some flour on yourself and pretend that you did. :)
Posted by: Sara | May 06, 2009 at 10:24 AM
What a gorgeous pasta dish! I've made ravioli without a pasta machine before and this homemade orecchiette is a great idea! Yum!
Posted by: Natasha - 5 Star Foodie | May 06, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Sounds delicious! I need to make more homemade pasta.
Posted by: pinkstripes | May 06, 2009 at 02:29 PM
Those "little ears" are beautiful!
What a great idea to make a carbonara for them to keep them warm and cozy!
Posted by: Stacey Snacks | May 06, 2009 at 06:43 PM
Making pasta is second nature? Ok, can I slap you now? I've made it once and while it was good, I need practice. Are you available for tutoring?
Posted by: Megan | May 06, 2009 at 10:53 PM
You made your own 'little ears' WOW...Im impressed. I still have yet to learn the art of pasta making... I have a pasta roller but have not busted it out yet. One day....
Posted by: Courtney | May 07, 2009 at 02:27 PM
Mmmm mmm good. Yes ma'am!
Posted by: The Duo Dishes | May 07, 2009 at 08:01 PM
I am so lame for being so late! Look at all that I've been missing. Curse my procrastinating tendencies!
[Calm] This is great! I love carbonara and this recipe is perfect. I've always wanted to make homemade pasta but don't have the patience to cut thin ribbons by hand. Love them little ears!
Posted by: Tangled Noodle | May 09, 2009 at 11:50 PM
OK - you just convinced me that I need to add another piece to my collection of kitchen "stuff". Now I need to figure out how to sneak it in the house with my boyfriend noticing.
Posted by: Eliana | May 11, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Okay, so I made this. Not the orecchiette but the dish. I loved it. My photo did not look as pretty as yours so I'm not sure if I should blog about it or not. I used the whole pound of orecchiette so I should have added another egg. I think I have to try it again! Thanks for a great recipe!
Posted by: Michele | May 12, 2009 at 10:05 AM
What a gorgeous pasta dish! I've made ravioli without a pasta machine before and this homemade orecchiette is a great idea! Yum!
Posted by: nfl jerseys | September 10, 2010 at 04:12 AM
This stock photo has been seducing my taste buds all over the web... I'm finally surrendering and printing out this recipe so I can make my own... (I'll buy the pasta, though; I'm impatient!)
Posted by: Gabriella | October 06, 2010 at 07:12 AM
Can you tell me what a carbonara should turn out to be. I loved the red pepper and extra bacon. I tried peas but wouldn't add them again, they compete for taste with the leeks.
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