Creamy Bacon Carbonara

Ingredients

for 4 servings

• 1/2 brown onion
• 1 zucchini
• 1 packet fettuccine (or other chosen pasta)
• 1 packet chicken stock pot
• 1 packet light cooking cream (~1/2 cup)
• 1 packet diced bacon (~180-22g)
• 3 packet grated Parmesan cheese (90g)
• 1 bag baby spinach leaves
• 1 egg (large)
• olive oil

Cooking Steps

1. Prepare:
   Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil.
   Thinly slice the brown onion (see ingredients).
   Grate the zucchini (note: you can skip the zucchini if desired).
   Finely chop the garlic.
2. Cook pasta:
   Cook the fettuccine in the boiling water until 'al dente', 9 minutes.
   Drain the pasta, reserving some pasta water (1/2 cup for 2 people / 1 cup for 4 people), then return to the saucepan.
   Drizzle with olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking.
   
   TIP: 'Al dente' pasta is cooked through but still slightly firm in the centre.
3. Prep carbonara mix:
   While the pasta is cooking, crack the egg into a medium bowl and whisk with a fork.
   Add the grated Parmesan cheese (reserve some for garnish!), light cooking cream, chicken stock pot and a generous pinch of pepper.
   Mix well and set aside.
   Set aside.
4. Cook bacon, onion and bits:
   In a large frying pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil over a medium-high heat.
   Cook the diced bacon, breaking up with a spoon, until golden, 4-6 minutes.
   Add the onion and zucchini and cook until softened and fragrant, 2-4 minutes.
   Add a drizzle more olive oil (if needed), then add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
5. Mix it all together:
   Add the fettuccine to the pan with the bacon, tossing to coat.
   Add 1/2 the baby spinach leaves, stirring, until wilted.
   Remove the pan from the heat (to ensure the eggs don't scramble!).
   Add the carbonara sauce and some reserved pasta water (2 tbs for 2 people / 1/4 cup for 4 people).
   Mix well to combine.
   Season with salt and pepper to taste.
   
   TIP: If the sauce looks too thick, add a little more pasta water until the sauce is creamy and silky
6. Serve:
   Divide the creamy bacon carbonara between bowls.
   Sprinkle with the reserved grated Parmesan.