Description
Creamy Avocado Carbonara with Smoked Beef is a rich and flavorful twist on the classic Italian pasta dish, featuring a smooth avocado-based sauce combined with smoky beef strips and Parmesan cheese. This easy 30-minute recipe offers a delightful, silky texture without the use of cream, making it a delicious and creamy option for pasta lovers seeking a fresh and healthy variation.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti or fettuccine
Avocado Sauce
- 2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Additional Ingredients
- 1 cup smoked beef strips, chopped
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Extra grated Parmesan (for serving)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta and set aside.
- Prepare Avocado Sauce: In a food processor, blend the peeled and pitted avocados, garlic cloves, fresh lemon juice, grated Parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Sauté Smoked Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the chopped smoked beef strips. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through and slightly crisp. Remove the skillet from heat afterward.
- Whisk Eggs: In a small bowl, whisk the two large eggs until they are smooth and fully blended.
- Combine Pasta and Beef: Add the hot drained pasta directly to the skillet with the smoked beef while the skillet is off the heat. Stir in the creamy avocado sauce and toss well to coat the pasta evenly.
- Add Eggs and Pasta Water: Immediately pour in the beaten eggs along with a splash of the reserved pasta water. Toss continuously and quickly to combine, allowing the heat of the pasta to gently cook the eggs and create a silky sauce without scrambling.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: If the sauce is too thick, add additional reserved pasta water one tablespoon at a time, tossing to loosen the sauce until desired consistency is reached.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the pasta with chopped fresh parsley and extra grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
- Be sure to toss the eggs quickly with the hot pasta off the heat to prevent scrambling.
- Use ripe avocados for the creamiest texture in the sauce.
- Reserve pasta water to help adjust the sauce consistency as needed.
- Smoked beef can be substituted with pancetta or bacon for a different flavor profile.
- This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the creamy texture.
