We’re all trying to eat better in January, I’m not exception but I love carbs and I love a treat on the weekend! Rather than order a takeaway or go out for dinner we decided to try a healthier version of carbonara.

I made the tagliatelle from scratch which turned into a two person job! Thankfully, I recently got the pasta attachments for my Kitchenaid so it was much easier to do. I think you can really taste the difference when the pasta is fresh and it’s easy to dry and store to use again.

This recipe is a favourite of mine from the new Jamie Oliver book and serves two people.

Ingredients

 

• 200 g frozen peas
• 1 tablespoon flaked almonds
• 1 small clove of garlic
• ½ a bunch of fresh basil , (15g)
• 15 g Parmesan cheese
• 1 lemon
• 150 g wholewheat spaghetti (I substituted homemade tagliatelle here)
• 2 rashers of smoked bacon will all of the fat removed
• olive oil or Frylight
• 1 large free-range egg
• 100 g fat-free natural yoghurt

 

Method

1. Boil a pan of salted water for your pasta, dunk a sieve containing the peas into the water for just 30 seconds, then put aside, leaving the pan on the heat.
2. Very lightly toast the almonds in a dry non-stick frying pan on a medium heat. Add these to a food processor along with the peeled garlic, a pinch of sea salt, the basil leaves, the finely grated Parmesan and the lemon juice. Blitz until it comes together, then pulse in the peas.
3. Cook the pasta in the boiling salted water according to the packet instructions. Meanwhile, very finely slice the bacon and fry slowly in the frying pan with 1 teaspoon of oil on a medium-low heat until golden and crispy – once cooked cut up the bacon.
4. Whisk the egg and yoghurt together well.
5. Once the pasta has cooked, keep a mug of the water used just in case you need it. Drain the rest of the pasta and add to the frying pan with the sauce and bacon and combine. Take this off of the heat (otherwise the egg will scramble) and add the egg and yoghurt mixture. If you need to loosen, add some of the pasta water.
6. Add some more parmesan if you like and you’re ready to serve!