Pasta Carbonara with Scallops

Pasta Carbonara is an Italian dish that has bacon, eggs and Parmesan cheese and black pepper and combined with a light olive oil and added to spaghetti or linguine.  Scallops are tender and have a delicate flavor and go really well with the flavors that are in Pasta Carbonara.   All of these flavors combine to make a tasty dish of Pasta Carbonara with Scallops.

I think sea scallops are a great choice for this dish.  Sea scallops are the larger scallop and sear up nicely to a golden brown in the pan when seared in olive oil or butter.  Sea scallops only require searing for about 2 minutes on each side to get a light golden brown color and still remain juicy and sweet.

After cooking the pasta and adding the ingredients if you find the pasta to need additional moistness then reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking liquid and add it to the pasta after you add the egg and cheese.   An alternative is to add ½ cup of light cream or half and half to the egg and cheese and then add to the pasta.  .

If you want a quick and easy to make dish for your family or for guests Try This Recipe.  It only takes about 30 minutes to make Pasta Carbonara with Scallops.  I like the scallops but feel free to make it without scallops if you would prefer.

PASTA CARBONARA WITH SCALLOPS

Serves 4
Time to Make:  30 Minutes

Ingredients:

12 large scallops

8 oz. spaghetti or linguine
2 eggs
3 tablespoons olive oil
¾ cup Parmesan cheese
½ cup pasta cooking liquid or ½ cup half and half
8 slices bacon
4 cloves garlic chopped
½ cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons scallions chopped
2 tablespoons parsley leaves

salt to taste, be careful because Parmesan cheese is salty and you may not need much salt.
freshly ground black pepper to taste.  Traditionally pepper is a big part of this dish so be liberal if you like pepper.
additional Parmesan cheese for passing.

Cook pasta:

Bring a large pot filled with water to a boil.
When water is boiling add the spaghetti or linquine and 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
Boil until pasta is done.  Remove and drain pasta and add a 1 tablespoon olive oil to pasta.

While pasta is cooking:

1.  In a bowl, mix eggs and Parmesan cheese and set aside.

2.   In a skillet, fry bacon and cook until brown and crispy.
Stir in garlic and saute for 1 minute on low.

3.  In a separate pan, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and when hot add scallops.  Saute for 2 minutes on each side and remove pan from heat

Finishing the dish:

1.  Quickly stir the egg/cheese mixture and bacon/garlic mixture into the hot pasta and stir until mixed.  Add up to ½ cup cooking water or ½ cup half and half.

2.  Place pasta mixture in a bowl or serving platter and top with green onions and sauteed scallops.
Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste.  Pass additional Parmesan cheese.