Healthier Carbonara Pasta Recipe » LeelaLicious (2024)

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by Regina | Leelalicious 9 Comments

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Comfort food made healthier with this Healthier Carbonara Pasta! This tasty pasta Carbonara is made with cauliflower sauce. Bacon, green onions and Parmesan perfect the meal.

Healthier Carbonara Pasta Recipe » LeelaLicious (1)

On Sunday we've had snow for the third time this season. And this time it feels like it's here to stay. If not on the calendar, winter has nevertheless begunhere in Calgary. How fascinating it is to live in different parts of the world with vast changes in climate (looking at you, SE Asia).

Saturday was still fairlywarm and sunny, so I brought our potted tomato plant out on the balcony. And by that I think I finally killed it off. We went out for Konrad's birthday dinner and I didn't think of the tomatoes again until Olivia's night feeding at 2 am.

By then it was -5 C (23 F) out. I rushed to get it in, but morning showed that I was too late. All leaves are hanging down sad and soggy. The green tomatoes on it might be fine still. I'll wait and see if they will turn red eventually. One can only have faith. Regarding our tomatoes, I have faith in droves. I love growing veggies.

Healthier Carbonara Pasta Recipe » LeelaLicious (2)

Making a Healthy Alternative to Carbonara

Well, all day Sunday, theflurries just kept coming and coming. We spent theafternoon coziedup on the couch, sipping hot coffee, snuggling with baby Olivia while watching the world outside being covered up in white (I try to forget the piles and piles of laundry I was folding at the same time).

After the rough week we have all had, this was just the kind of time out we needed. And to end the day, some simple but delicious comfort food was called for and so, this fabulous dinner came to be.

Last week I shared with you my way of making healthier Alfredo sauce from cauliflower. It is a solid contender to the less-healthy alternative. Personally, making alfredo from cauliflower gives me a sense of accomplishment. My favorite quick meal to make with it is any kind of pasta. To give it an extra kick, I add bacon and green onions and call it Carbonara.

Healthier Carbonara Pasta Recipe » LeelaLicious (4)

Quick and Simple, Add Variety As You Please

If you have the sauce ready and waiting for you, this healthier Carbonara pasta meal comes together in about 15 minutes. Exactly the amount of time I could handle being away from the couch yesterday. I'm sure you can relate to that at times.

You can use any kind and shape of pasta. I had regular fettuccine, but you can use whole wheat, gluten free or low glycemic pasta. Now you just fry the bacon, add the cauliflower sauce, pasta, green onions and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Of course you could add some more protein, like sliced chicken breast or even some salmon.

Healthier Carbonara Pasta Recipe » LeelaLicious (5)

Healthier Carbonara Pasta

5 from 3 votes

Comfort food made healthier with this Healthier Carbonara Pasta! This tasty pasta Carbonara is made with cauliflower sauce. Bacon, green onions and Parmesan perfect the meal.

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Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Ingredients

  • ½ pound pasta
  • 6 slices bacon diced
  • 1 ½ cups Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce see recipe from previous post
  • ¼ cup green onion sliced
  • Parmesan cheese grated, to taste

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta according to directions.

  • In a large frying pan cook the bacon dices until crispy. Drain most of the bacon grease, but leave some for flavor.

  • Add the Cauliflower sauce to the pan until heated through. Stir in cooked pasta and green onions.

  • Serve pasta hot and sprinkle with more green onions and grated Parmesan cheese to taste.

  • When heating leftovers you might need to add a little more sauce or water to moisten.

Keyword Healthier Carbonara Pasta

Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment below! Share a picture on social media with tag #leelalicious !

Pin Healthy Pasta Carbonara recipe for later?

Healthier Carbonara Pasta Recipe » LeelaLicious (6)

Update:

For more creative cauliflower recipes check out 4 Surprising Ways to Cook With Cauliflower!

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy

Check out these similar recipes, and keep on keeping it real.

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  3. Vegan Pasta Bake (Gluten Free)
  4. Creamy Bacon Pasta with Spinach
  5. Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta

Random Questions

Is pasta carbonara good for you?

While traditional carbonara can be rich and high in calories, this healthier version with cauliflower sauce offers a more nutritious alternative. It incorporates vegetables and lean protein, making it a more balanced choice.

What's healthier, carbonara, or Alfredo?

Between the two, the healthier option depends on the preparation. Traditional Alfredo sauce tends to be rich in butter and cream, while carbonara typically includes eggs, cheese, and pork. This cauliflower-based carbonara recipe offers a lighter alternative to both.

What is the best pasta for carbonara?

Carbonara pairs well with long, thin pasta shapes like spaghetti, fettuccine, or linguine. However, you can also use whole wheat, gluten-free, or low glycemic pasta based on your dietary preferences and needs.

What are the health benefits of carbonara sauce?

With this cauliflower-based sauce, you can enjoy the nutritional benefits of cauliflower, which is a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Additionally, the dish includes green onions and bacon, providing a good balance of flavors and nutrients.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Kelsey

    This looks really good but I've never tried cauliflower. I'm not necessarily the bigger vegetable lover but I do have my favorites. Does this taste the same or similar to a regular carbonara sauce?

    Reply

    • Regina

      I wouldn't go as far as to say it is just like carbonara. It will give your pasta a similar consistency but with the benefit of consuming a good amount of vegetables at the same time

      Reply

  2. Kasandra

    Healthier Carbonara Pasta Recipe » LeelaLicious (7)
    I love this cauliflower sauce for everything. I used my Nutribullet to blend this and added my soy butter for creaminess. YUM. I also froze the sauce for later.

    Reply

    • Regina

      This is awesome Kasandra! So happy to hear you are making full use of the versatility of this sauce 🙂

      Reply

  3. Lauren

    OMG, I am SOOOO making this!!! When I saw this on IG (and so many OTHER recipes I missed, I had to come see it!) Pinning it and the sauce now!

    Reply

    • Regina

      Thanks so much for visiting Lauren. And of course for pinning! Btw...the inlaws are getting us the recommended Manfrotto tripod for Christmas. Ahhh....excited!!

      Reply

      • Lauren

        Oh, yay! Good luck!!!

        Reply

  4. Jacquee

    This looks so hearty and inviting! I want to plant my face into that last shot...let's hope I miss the fork. 🙂

    Reply

    • Regina

      Ahh....thank you Jacquee. This sauce it really fantastic. Paired with pasta and bacon you just cant go wrong 😀

      Reply

Healthier Carbonara Pasta Recipe » LeelaLicious (2024)

FAQs

Which is healthier, carbonara or Alfredo? ›

What's healthier, carbonara, or Alfredo? Between the two, the healthier option depends on the preparation. Traditional Alfredo sauce tends to be rich in butter and cream, while carbonara typically includes eggs, cheese, and pork. This cauliflower-based carbonara recipe offers a lighter alternative to both.

Which ingredient should never be used in traditional carbonara? ›

What not to put in Spaghetti Carbonara? Don't put garlic, cream, milk or butter. It is not needed. It is fine if you want to make a dish with those ingredients, but if you want to learn how to make this dish correctly, use only pecorino, eggs/egg yolks, black pepper, guanciale, and pasta water.

What is a good substitute for meat in carbonara? ›

Carbonara is traditionally made with guanciale, or cured pork jowl, though pancetta is often substituted, and both are fatty, salty and deeply savoury.

Is carbonara better with linguine or spaghetti? ›

While linguine is stronger and heartier, spaghetti is more delicate and best served with lighter sauces. A heavy Alfredo would overwhelm a plate of spaghetti, so we opt for lighter sauces like carbonara and marinara so the pasta can shine.

Which has more calories Alfredo or carbonara? ›

The Alfredo selection, however, only comes in at 1,400 calories, while the Carbonara has 1,480, with even more of them (510 versus 460) coming from fat.

Is carbonara pasta high in calories? ›

Original Carbonara usually runs around 574 calories, 27 grams of fat per serving. This revised recipe turns out only 307 calories and 7 grams of fat. NOTE: This recipe is OK for those on the LMD (Low Microbial Diet), as long as all vegetables AND cheese are well cooked. Omit the cheese for those on a dairy restriction.

What is the golden rule of carbonara? ›

The golden rule to silky carbonara is to whisk your egg whites so that they're completely incorporated with the egg yolks. This will create a smooth, velvety sauce. As like any pasta dish, including carbonara, cook the pasta perfectly al dente so that it's soft but still firm, with some bite.

Is pasta carbonara unhealthy? ›

Creamy sauces like carbonara sauce are usually made from butter, cheese, and heavy cream, all of which pile on the saturated fat and calories. A healthier option would be a lighter sauce such as the olive oil-based one in aglio olio, which is rich in good fat and cooked with fresh ingredients like garlic and chilli.

What is the golden rule of cooking a carbonara? ›

Whisk Like You Mean It

You're using more egg yolks than whites here, which is what makes carbonara so rich and luxurious. But there's still two eggs-worth of whites in there. Whisking your eggs so that the whites are completely incorporated into the yolks will give your sauce a more uniform texture.

Why don t Italians use cream in carbonara? ›

Authentic Italian carbonara does not contain cream. The absence of cream in traditional carbonara is a matter of culinary tradition and the desire to preserve the simplicity and purity of the dish's flavors.

Can Gordon Ramsay cook carbonara? ›

Gordon Ramsay's carbonara recipe will definitely satisfy your pasta cravings. This pasta recipe is loaded with veggies and cheese. It also has a generous dollop of cream to make your meal extra creamy.

Should there be garlic in carbonara? ›

Must-have ingredients

that there are only five ingredients: pasta, pork cheek, eggs, cheese and pepper. That's it. A real carbonara does not contain onion, garlic, or cream.

Why do Italians eat carbonara? ›

'charcoal burner'), some believe the dish was first made as a hearty meal for Italian charcoal workers. In parts of the United States, this etymology gave rise to the term coal miner's spaghetti. It has even been suggested that it was created as a tribute to the Carbonari ( lit.

What kind of cheese is good in carbonara? ›

Pecorino Romano: This aged sheep's cheese is always traditionally used in the Roman pastas, and its salty, grassy, earthy flavor is absolutely delicious in carbonara. That said, if Pecorino is unavailable at your local grocery store, you can use Parmesan as a non-traditional substitute.

Do Italian chefs use dry pasta for carbonara? ›

you should definitely make carbonara with dried pasta. because they're so delicate and ethereal, a dry pasta has that really nice al dente chew.

Are carbonara healthy? ›

The dish offers some nutritional benefits. Eggs provide protein, while Pecorino Romano cheese contributes calcium and flavor. However, carbonara is also high in saturated fats and calories due to the use of cheese and cured pork. Additionally, the pasta itself is a source of carbohydrates.

What is the difference between carbonara and Alfredo? ›

The difference between an Alfredo and a Carbonara: Alfredo is basic – pasta, cream, parmesan, parsley. Carbonara is a little more complicated – pasta, onion, pancetta, garlic, egg yolks, cream, parmesan, parsley.

How healthy is Alfredo pasta? ›

A typical portion of this decadent dish has 1200 calories, 75 grams of fat, 47 grams of saturated fat and gives you more than half a day's worth of sodium. Yikes! Looking at a recipe, it's not hard to figure out why. The star ingredients are buckets of heavy cream, butter, cheese and mountains of pasta.

What's the difference between Alfredo pasta and carbonara? ›

The difference between alfredo and carbonara is that carbonara contains an egg while alfredo sauce does not. Carbonara is usually thinner in consistency than alfredo sauce, using the egg to coat the noodles instead of relying on the cream.

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