The Best Pasta Carbonara-with A Twist

Total Time: 29 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 19 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 3/4 lb gemelli pasta
• 1 lb asparagus
• 12 slices turkey bacon
• 1 1/4 cups fat-free half-and-half
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, plus
• 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 cook pasta in lightly salted water according to package directions.
• 2 trim and cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces and add to boiling water during last 4 minutes of cooking time. drain and keep warm.
• 3 meanwhile, place bacon in a medium size nonstick skillet and cook over medium-high heat about 8 minutes, turning occasionally, or until slightly browned and crisp. remove from pan with tongs and place on a plated lined with a paper towel.
• 4 in a small saucepan, whisk half-and-half, and egg yolks. cook over medium heat about 8 minutes, whisking constantly, until temperature reaches 160 degrees on an instand-read termometer.
• 5 stir in basil, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• 6 add bacon to cooked pasta and asparagus.
• 7 stir in creamy egg mixture. stir in 1/3 cup parmesan cheese.
• 8 spoon pasta into a serving bowl and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon parmesan. serve immediately.