Tortellini ala Carbonara

[Duer 157099]

I have all the ingredients and I really want to make this. I have some cubed pancetta, cheese tortellini, eggs, cream, regg-parm, garlic, onion, butter -- and frozen peas (it's not right if it doesn't have peas, imho -- the sweetness just kicks it over the edge)

Anyone have a to-die-for recipe handy? I know it's a simple dish, but I've had a couple of really outstanding ones, many years ago, that I want to recreate, but have never tried.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Here's my spaghetti carb recipe.

Cook the pasta and hold it aside(this recipe will sauce 1 lb of spaghetti)

1/3 lb pancetta, cut into small pieces
2 medium onions, diced
6 large cloves of garlic, minced
1 TBLS olive oil
3 eggs
2 TBLS cream (heavy or whatever you have)
1/2 cup white wine or dry vermouth
1/2 teas black pepper
1/2 cup grated Parm
1 teas dried red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teas dried oregano.

Heat olive and add pancetta.

While the pancetta is cooking, beat together the eggs, cream,pepper and enough of the Parm to make it thick. Set aside.

When the pancetta has rendered most of its fat, add onions and garlic, cooking over low until onions are soft. Add red pepper flakes, oregano and wine, cover pan and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Now comes the fun part. Take the hot pan mixture and whisk it into the egg mix, slowly at first by draining the oil into the egg mix then finally mixing in the solids. Toss the past with this sauce and sprinkle a little more Parm on top.

I think peas would be a fine addition.

[Duer 157099]

2. Thanks -- I already went ahead before I saw this post

but I essentially did the same thing, minus the red pepper flakes (darn! why didn't I think of that!) and oregano.

I sauted the finely diced pancetta in some EVOO for a couple minutes, then added the diced onion, sauteed for another 8 mins or so; deglazed with some vermouth, then added some minced garlic and the frozen peas and brought the heat back up. Then added the cooked cheese tortellini directly from the hot water (just used a slotted spoon), mixed it all up and then poured the egg mixture (eggs, grated parm, tiny bit of cream, s&P, dash of nutmeg, and a tad more minced garlic) over the hot pasta mix, still in the pan but off the heat, and stirred it all up.

oh YUM, it was just what I was shooting for! The peas really add something, imho.

Next time: red pepper flakes! :hi: