Spinach Pasta Carbonara

By CBarile

"This epitomizes the beauty of few-ingredient cooking," says Claire Robinson, host of the Food Network's 5 Ingredient Fix. Indeed, she freshens up the classic, rich pasta by simply adding a few handfuls of spinach to the fettuccine just before it's finished cooking.

Plus: F&W's Pasta Cooking Guide

Our Pairing Suggestion Berry-inflected, dry rosé.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound lean slab bacon, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1 pound spinach fettuccine
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (3 ounces)
• 1 large egg plus 2 large yolks
• 2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper
• One 5-ounce container baby spinach
• Salt

Details

Servings 4
Cooking time 35mins

Preparation

Step 1

In a large, deep skillet, cook the bacon over moderately low heat until crisp, 7 minutes.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the fettuccine until almost al dente. Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk the 1 cup of grated cheese with the egg, egg yolks and pepper.

Carefully measure out 1 1/4 cups of the pasta cooking water and gradually whisk it into the egg mixture. Add the spinach to the fettuccine, then drain immediately.

Reheat the bacon in the skillet. Off the heat, add the fettuccine and spinach. Slowly pour in the egg mixture, tossing constantly with tongs. Set the skillet over moderate heat for a few seconds to warm the sauce; do not boil. Season lightly with salt and serve at once.