Breakfast Carbonara

Alton Brown developed this recipe for his book “EveryDayCook” because it hits all of the best notes of breakfast in a way that is much more appealing than just eggs, sausage and toast. If you eat pasta early in the day, he reasons, that leaves plenty of time to work it off. He’s a fan of cooking in cast iron, and calls for it here. But any good 12-inch sauté pan will do.

Ingredients

  • 1tablespoon grated orange zest
  • ¼cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
  • ¼cup fresh bread crumbs
  • 1tablespoon kosher salt
  • 8ounces dried linguine, preferably whole wheat
  • 2teaspoons olive oil
  • 8ounces breakfast sausage, either bulk or removed from its casings
  • 2scallions, thinly sliced
  • 4large eggs, room temperature
  • 3ounces Pecorino Romano, finely grated
  • 1teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Nutritional Information
      • Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

        580 calories; 28 grams fat; 10 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 50 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 30 grams protein; 247 milligrams cholesterol; 2283 milligrams sodium

    Note: The information shown is DiningAndCooking.com’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation

  1. Combine the orange zest, parsley and bread crumbs in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Add 2 quarts of water, salt and linguine to a large sauté pan. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 4 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet, preferably cast-iron, over medium-high heat until it starts to shimmer. Add the sausage, breaking it into pieces with a spoon, and brown. Add the scallions and cook for a few minutes until fragrant.
  4. While the pasta and sausage cook, whisk together the eggs, cheese and pepper.
  5. Drain the pasta, reserving a 1/3 cup of the starchy water. Add the pasta to the sausage mixture, tossing well to coat.
  6. Remove from heat, add the egg mixture and toss some more, adding some pasta water to loosen the sauce.
  7. Serve immediately with a generous sprinkle of the parsley mixture.

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