Dinner, Recipes · February 27, 2023

Lemon Carbonara Pasta

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Carbonara Pasta is one of my favorite pasta dishes. It’s silky, salty and full of unique flavor that you don’t get in a lot of other sauces. Making it at home is so much simpler than most people realize. And you won’t want to miss my version of it!

Carbonara pasta history

Like most Italian dishes that have been around for generations, no one really knows the true origin of Carbonara Pasta and when it was created. There is some history to suggest it goes as far back as 1839.

Due to the name carbonara being closely related to the Italian word “cabonaro”, which means “charcoal burner” in Italian, many people believe that it’s origins involve being a meal for Italian coal miners. Others believe that it was actually a dish created for an Italian secret society called the Carbonori or “charcolmen”. Still many believe that it was just a dish made famous by the restaurant La Carborna in Rome. However, the name Carbonara and the recipe was first described in an Italian newspaper in the 1950s. So, you can pick your folklore on this one.

The traditional pasta Carbonara recipe

The claim to fame with Carbonara pasta is the silk texture that’s made from an egg yolk. The egg yolk is cooked via hot pasta or – in the case of my recipe – hot pasta water. This is done so that the egg helps retain the smooth texture and doesn’t curdle when “cooking” it.

Also, all Carbonara Pastas have cheese in them. Traditionally they are either Pecorino or a Parmesan mixture. Because it can be difficult for me to source some ingredients here in Western Michigan, my recipe uses a full mixture of Parmesan cheese.

Lastly, Carbonara pasta recipes usually have some kind of pork in them. Most chefs agree that if you’re adding meat to carbonara it should be guanciale This is an Italian cured meat made from certain areas of the pig. However, usually, you will find pancetta or bacon in a Spaghetti Carbonara.

Making Lemon Pasta Carbonara meatless

That said, I decided against adding any meat. I really wanted people to be able to focus on the light lemony flavor of this Lemon Carbonara and the fresh herbs. In fact, if I was going to add meat, I don’t think I would add bacon or pancetta (Good luck finding guanciale in most areas of the U.S.). I would probably add grilled or breaded chicken, or even shrimp. But, it’s just delicious without any of that.

Also, if you’re a good Italian Catholic, then you know it’s Lent right now and this recipe works for Friday night meals since it is meatless. I’m a bad Italian Catholic and will gladly eat cheeseburgers for any meal on Fridays. If you’re going to message me and say this technically doesn’t count because it has egg in it, well…I’ve already said I’m a bad Italian Catholic.

Serving carbonara pasta

I like to serve my Lemon Carbonara Pasta family style. This is honestly the way we most often eat when I’m gathered with my extended family. We pass around giant plates of pasta, platters of antipasto and bakeware full of lasagna. I love this platter that I used to plate the Lemon Carbonara Pasta that you can find {HERE}. I may have it in this true white color and the regular white color {HERE} also. Just don’t tell Kevin!

I don’t actually remember where I found the wood serving tongs, but there’s a great pair {HERE} that looks really similar and gets good reviews.

Lemon Carbonara Pasta recipe

My Lemon Carbonara Pasta Recipe calls for the traditional ingredients, and a few non-traditional ones too. As the recipe has evolved through the United States, adding heavy cream and butter is commonplace.

In my recipe I do include cream, butter, garlic, thyme, parsley, crispy sage and salt and pepper too. It all pairs together beautifully to give you a filling, delicious meal that you can make in less than 30 minutes. It’s the kind of meal that I imagine my Italian grandma making for my mom and her siblings back in the 50’s – all seven of them.

But it’s also the kind of meal that’s perfect for an intimate dinner at home with just a few of your favorite people too.

Looking for other pasta recipes?

If you are a pasta lover like me then you want to make sure you stop by and check out these recipes as well!

Garlic Ricotta & Arugula Pasta {HERE}
Pasta with White Wine Sauce and Blistered Tomatoes {HERE}
Creamy Lemon Butter Pasta with Spaghetti {HERE} – A fan favorite!
Parmesan & Spinach Orzo {HERE}
Chicken Tortellini Soup {HERE}

Thank you so much for visiting today, friends! I hope you will come back and see what else we’re up to here at Sugar Maple Farmhouse. You can find a full, printable version of my Lemon Carbonara Pasta recipe below. Let me know what you think in the comments!

For more recipes, click {HERE}. If you’re looking for the perfect dessert for the Lemon Carbonara Pasta, click {HERE} to grab our made-from-scratch Chocolate Mousse. And if you love lemon, make sure to check out our Lemon Shortbread Cookies {HERE}.