As regular readers may know we’re rather partial to a carbonara in our house. In the main because we always have a steady supply of eggs, albeit a dwindling one these days as our ladies are getting quite frankly a bit old. The kids love it and it so happens to be one of the quickiest and tastiest dinners EVER. In essence Carbonara Rocks. And I do love a pasta dish that can be prepared in the time it takes the pasta to cook. We very rarely have the standard bacon and egg version, as ever feeling the compulsion to ‘veg’ things up somewhat. A popular permutation is my Sausage & Courgette Carbonara and in the Autumn a Roasted Pumpkin Carbonara, but for you today I have a pescatarian and seasonal Smoked Salmon & Courgette Carbonara.
With Jacques’ adoration of all things smoked salmon and Francesca’s recent approval of it we’ve been eating this quite a bit lately. So when June’s Recipes for Life ingredients were announced to be Salmon, Pasta and Courgette I was delighted to be able to blog another Foti family favourite. To recap on my previous Recipes for Life posts, this is a challenge run by Vanesther of Bangers & Mash on behalf of the Somerset based charity SWALLOW. Each month three ingredients are picked and bloggers are invited to concoct wholesome, easy and tasty dishes that use them.
As courgettes are now gloriously in season I shall also be entering my recipe to Ren Behan’s Simple and in Season event. And since this is actually a pretty frugal dinner using smoked salmon trimmings to Credit Crunch Munch, co-hosted by Helen of Fuss Free Flavours and Camila of Fab Food 4 All. And this month Anneli over at Delicieux is taking up the hosting.
Smoked Salmon & Courgette Carbonara
Great for: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Bigger Kids, Growns Ups, Family Dinners, Grown Up Dinners, Quickie Mid-Week Suppers, Carbonara Addicts, Smoked Salmon Fiends (like Jacques – smoked salmon is his new best thing)
Serves: A Family of 4
200g of dried pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 smallish courgettes, sliced lengthways then diced across into 2/3 mm slices
130g smoked salmon trimmings
3 free range eggs, medium
2 tablespoons finely grated Grana Padana or Parmesan cheese
black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1. Cook the pasta to packet instructions
2. While the pasta’s cooking heat the oil in a (lidded) saucepan and cook the garlic for a minute. Throw in the diced courgette and give everything a good stir. Place the lid on and allow the courgette to sweat for the time it takes your pasta to cook. Stir every now and again and add a splash of water if they’re looking a little dry.
3. While the courgettes and pasta are cooking, lightly whisk together the eggs, then stir in the cheese and a generous pinch of black pepper. Set aside.
4. Once your pasta’s cooked and drained and the courgettes are soft combine them both together and stir through the egg and cheese mix, together with the lemon juice. But don’t put the pan back on the heat or your eggs will scramble!. What you want is lovely glossy eggy coating.
5. Taste and season with more black pepper and/or lemon juice.
You might also like:
Tagliatelle with Cherry Tomatoes & Mascarpone
Garden Pasta with griddled courgettes, cherry tomatoes & feta
Chez Foti 
June 18th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Oh this is wonderful, I too am a big carbonara fan and never thought to use salmon, the zucchini is a great addition also. Quick and easy meal and delicious too!
June 19th, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Why thanking you, the salmon makes it a good deal lighter than the normal bacon version, and I can’t resist adding a veggie!
June 18th, 2013 at 4:09 pm
I always add courgettes to my carbonara but I tend to grate them. I’ll have to try this chunkier version and I love the addition of smoked salmon too. I bet it’s delicious!
June 19th, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Now I never thought of grating them! Wouldn’t even have to cook them then? I find a carbonara without a veggie just a little too heavy.
June 21st, 2013 at 4:25 pm
You just add them a couple of minutes before the end of cooking time, just to warm through. It gives some virtue to a creamy pasta without being obviously healthy 🙂
June 18th, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Now that sounds like a supper dish that wants to give my tummy a hug! It looks so comforting and delicious. You can’t go wrong with a big bowl of pasta like yours. Great entry for Credit Crunch Munch 🙂
June 19th, 2013 at 4:02 pm
Cheers me dear! It’s my summer comfort food nirvana! Though gets made a little too often….
June 18th, 2013 at 8:00 pm
This looks delicious Louisa! Love the idea of smoked salmon in carbonara. Delectable!
June 19th, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Thanks Anne, it’s a lighter but equally as tasty version.
June 18th, 2013 at 10:13 pm
Looks so yummy and love the speediness of prep for a midweek family dinner Louisa. Are your courgettes ready in the garden? Our courgette plants are looking as if they’re enjoying the warmer weather (us too!) but we have a little way to go before we’re eating them. I love having them in the garden, particularly so that I can pick those little finger sized ones that are so tasty though – can’t wait!
June 19th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Sadly no courgettes in the garden, it’s slowly all winding up (for now anyway) as I’m heading back to the UK soon. Shall be blogging very soon about my new venture! Will be very excited to try my hand at veggie growing on english soil next year though :))
June 18th, 2013 at 10:18 pm
[…] Smoked Salmon and Courgette Carbonara from Chez Foti […]
June 19th, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Sounds amazing – I adore carbonara, and our courgettes are just starting to bulk up in the polytunnel, so will save this recipe for when they do!
June 19th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Ah thanks, do let me know if you make it!
June 22nd, 2013 at 5:20 pm
Absolutly delicious !
I love this recipe but no courgettes in the garden at the moment in Brittany, too soon !
June 23rd, 2013 at 5:06 pm
Thanks Dominique! I bet your courgettes won’t be long….?!
June 23rd, 2013 at 4:45 am
I am really enjoying your blog, thank you! John
June 23rd, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Thanks John, and welcome to my blog!
June 29th, 2013 at 1:55 pm
[…] to Louisa’s sausage and courgette carbonara. For this challenge, Louisa has come up with a Smoked Salmon and Courgette Carbonara, which looks all set to become another family favourite for us […]
July 11th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
[…] Another simple and tasty dish from Louisa at Chez Foti – Smoked Salmon and Courgette Carnonara – a great […]
July 22nd, 2013 at 10:08 pm
I used this recipe this evening as a base for a fresh salmon carbonara. I cooked the fish in the microwave first, and used peas instead of courgettes. It was delicious!! Thanks for sharing!
July 25th, 2013 at 8:35 am
Oh lovely, bet it was good with fresh salmon and peas too! Thanks so much for trying :))