Healthier Sweet Potato and Spelt Carbonara

 

Winter is here and we are all looking for comforting recipes that are not only delicious, but will also provide us with plenty of nutrients to keep us healthy through the cooler months. 

Sweet potatoes are an easy (and tasty!) addition to so many home-cooked meals, plus as one serve provides 100% of your daily vitamin C intake, they can help keep your immune health in check during the cold weather.  

I've made this recipe for one serve because it's the perfect meal to make for one when you have leftover sweet potato mash or puree. To cook for more people, simply double, triple etc the quantities. It's also easily adapted for vegetarians by simply omitting the bacon. In this healthier version of carbonara, I'm using delicious sweet potato as a substitute for cream, and wholesome spelt pasta. - Magdalena Roze

Serves: 1

Ingredients:
100 grams spelt spaghetti
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
30 grams bacon or pancetta, diced
150 grams sweet potato, pureed
30 grams parmesan cheese, grated
1 whole free range egg, beaten
Salt and pepper to season

Method:
Cook the spelt pasta according to the packet instructions, usually around 10 minutes, and reserve 2 tablespoons of the cooking water for your carbonara sauce.

In the meantime, place the olive oil in a frying pan on medium heat, add the garlic and bacon/pancetta, and cook for about 5 minutes or until it's crisp and golden, then set aside.

Put the sweet potato, parmesan, egg and half the pancetta/bacon in a bowl. When the pasta is ready, remove it from the water with tongs and place it into the bowl along with a couple of tablespoons of the cooking water. Using the tongs or a couple of forks, toss the pasta with all the ingredients until it's well coated and all ingredients are well combined. The hot pasta will lightly cook the egg.

Top with remaining bacon/pancetta, extra parmesan and a generous amount of sea salt and freshly cracked pepper.

Enjoy!