Follow these easy make-ahead steps for shrimp carbonara with grilled corn (it doesn't have to be grilled) and bacon. Pasta water helps create the perfect sauce along with eggs, garlic and red pepper flakes forming the base to a fabulous shrimp dinner. Fresh basil and parmesan pull it all together.
Course: entree
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 10
Prep Time: 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time: 20 minutesminutes
Ingredients
8slicesthick sliced bacon(chopped)
1 ½lbsraw shrimp(peeled and de-veined)
salt & pepper
4ears corn on the cob(grilled)
1lbbucatini pasta
4clovesgarlic(minced)
1teaspoonred pepper flakes
3eggs
1 ½cupsparmesan cheese(grated)
fresh basil
Instructions
Cook corn on the grill until lightly charred, or cook however you prefer. Let it cool enough to cut from the cob and set aside.
In a medium bowl whisk together eggs and add cheese.
Bring salted water to a boil and cook pasta per package directions, drain, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water.
In a very large skillet cook bacon over medium heat. Once it is crispy, remove to a paper towel lined plate. Leave one tablespoon of bacon grease in the pan and save the rest for later in the recipe.
Pat shrimp dry and add to the skillet, cook over medium heat until just cooked, about 3-4 minutes, transfer to a plate.
Add the remaining bacon grease back to the skillet or add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and heat over low heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for about 1 minute.
Add pasta to the skillet and coat in garlic and bacon fat.
Add egg mixture and ½ cup of pasta water to the skillet and toss quickly for about 3-4 minutes until it coats the pasta evenly. Add bacon, shrimp and corn and combine. Remove from heat and add fresh basil. Serve immediately.
Barbara's Notes + Tips
You can use frozen corn, if so add it to the skillet with the red pepper flakes and garlic.
You do not have to grill the corn, you can microwave it wrapped in plastic.
Don't forget the starchy pasta water, it's what keeps the eggs from scrambling.