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Zucchini Carbonara
Classic pasta carbonara is made with eggs, cured pork and cheese. We learned this fantastic vegetarian riff from Roman home cook Claudia Rinaldi. The guanciale or pancetta traditionally used is replaced by garlicky, golden-brown zucchini that itself brings a meatiness to the dish. The squash is sautéed and the pasta boiled, then the two are tossed with a mixture of umami-packed Parmesan, tangy pecorino Romano, rich eggs and starchy pasta cooking water. The resulting sauce is silky-smooth and creamy, yet light. We added lemon zest to the mix, which brings fresh, zingy notes, as well as red pepper flakes for subtle heat.
4 to 6
Servings
Tip
Don’t add the egg-cheese mixture until the pot is off the heat. This will prevent the eggs from overcooking and ensure that the sauce’s texture is velvety smooth.
40 minutes
Ingredients
-
1
large egg plus 1 large egg yolk
-
1
ounce pecorino Romano cheese, finely grated (½ cup), plus more to serve
Directions
-
01In a small bowl, whisk together the whole egg plus yolk, both cheeses, the lemon zest and ½ teaspoon black pepper; set aside. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium, combine 1½ tablespoons of the oil and the garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and discard the garlic, then add half the zucchini in an even layer and sprinkle lightly with salt. Cook, without stirring, until golden brown on the bottoms, 3 to 4 minutes.
Reviews
September 4, 2026
Delicious!
The directions were straightforward. It was nice to have a recipe that was not dependent on cream. We loved this and my husband declared it was restaurant quality. The hardest part was sauteeing the zucchini. It was a very easy recipe for such a delicious dish!
November 20, 2025
Lovely vegetarian version of a classic dish
This was super easy and absolutely delicious. I cooked the zucchini a few hours in advance because I was serving the dish to guests and wanted to be able to just throw it all together at the last minute. That worked perfectly. Don't skimp on the lemon zest - it really adds a nice brightness.
August 6, 2025
Very Good Pasta Zucchini recipe
Excellent recipe, will definitely add to repertoire
April 20, 2025
Rich and flavorful
Nice recipe. Technique led to great sauce consistency without curdling. Family loved it.
October 15, 2024
Standing ovation
Definitely a winner in our household. Saw it on Saturday, fixed it on Monday. When a wife gives her husband a standing ovation, you know it is both easy and delicious. The hardest part was leaving the zucchini alone in the pan long enough to brown.
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