Brown Butter Spaghetti with Bacon & Asparagus

bacon

🥗Healthier: turkey bacon

💰Cheaper: smoked sausage

Turkey bacon reduces fat while maintaining flavor.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grana padano

Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

Start by melting some butter in a skillet to prepare for browning.

Bring water to a boil in a large pot and add salt to season the water before adding the pasta.

Add spaghetti to the boiling water and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally.

While the pasta cooks, brown the bacon in a separate pan until crispy, then set aside.

Use a vegetable peeler to shave asparagus into thin strips.

Shred pecorino cheese for later use in the dish.

Check the butter as it melts and foams, watching for it to turn golden brown with little specks forming.

Once the pasta is al dente, turn off the heat and reserve some pasta water before draining.

Add the drained pasta directly into the skillet with the browned butter.

Add reserved pasta water to the skillet to help create a sauce, usually around half a cup.

Stir the pasta in the browned butter, allowing it to absorb the flavors.

Add the shaved asparagus to the skillet and stir gently to warm through without cooking it too much.

Incorporate the shredded pecorino cheese into the pasta mixture and stir well.

Add the crispy bacon back into the skillet and mix everything together.

Season with additional salt and black pepper to taste.

Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavors.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens