The Same Recipe for Both! Really?

Linguini (linguine) Carbonara and Fried Rice

Maybe a tiny bit misleading. But with the exception of rice and pasta and one other ingredient these two recipes are the same. Once cooked and soy sauce added to one and Parmesan to the other the tastes are distinctively different.

Linguini Carbonara has always been on the brunch menu, more like eggs and bacon, but is quite versatile and easily makes a great family dinner. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy these two recipes are with minimal ingredients. Great for the inexperienced cook.

Recipe

Serves 4 as a side

Fried Rice

3 1/2 Cups cooked rice (Use white or brown or your fav-definitely will influence the taste. Cook according to directions)

1 Tablespoon butter
6 Pieces of bacon-avoid very sweet or intensely flavored bacon
1/2 Onion-diced
Large garlic clove-smashed and minced
1 Cup diced celery
1 Cup cubed cooked ham-avoid very sweet or intensely flavored ham, such as honey ham
3 Green onions-chopped/sliced small, tops included
2 Eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
Soy sauce to taste

Cook rice per directions as you begin to assemble ingredients. This will all come together quickly. Rice cooking times vary. Begin cooking rice before starting with other ingredients if it has a long cooking time.

I like using a wok but a skillet will work well too. Make sure it is large enough to include all ingredients. Melt butter over medium temperature and sauté the onion until limp and the garlic and continue for the next minute. Add the celery and continue for another two minutes. turn the heat down if ingredients begin to color.

Remove these ingredients and set aside.

Next, cut bacon into one inch pieces, peel apart and cook over medium to medium high heat until browned nicely. Remove to other ingredients. Pour out any excess fat and then add the ham to brown slightly. Increase heat slightly before adding the other ingredients.

Next add back the other cooked ingredients plus cooked rice. Add the green onion too-save a little for garnish. Bring to medium-plus heat and add the eggs directly into the mix where you have made a well close to the skillet bottom. Stir to help cook eggs evenly. Incorporate into all ingredients.

Taste for salt and pepper need.

Mix soy sauce directly into the mix or serve on the side.

How does this differ for the next recipe here?Rice and soy sauce, yes, but also the celery. No celery in the next recipe.

Frozen peas can be added to this recipe too if you like. As you add the rice add the frozen peas. The peas only require enough heat to warm. Then follow remainder of steps.

Linguini Carbonara

1/2 Pound Linguini-fresh preferred, cooked at the very end to maintain the heat. Fresh takes only a couple of minutes. Dried linguini in a pinch.

1 Tablespoon butter
6 Pieces of bacon-avoid very sweet or intensely flavored bacon
1/2 Onion diced
Large garlic clove-smashed and minced
1 Cup cubed cooked ham-avoid very sweet or intensely flavored ham
2 Eggs
1/4-1/3 Cup sun dried tomatoes (olive oil preserved)
1/4 to 1/3 Cup grated Parmesan and more for sprinkling
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Sauté the onion until limp over medium heat.

Add the garlic and continue the sauté for a minute or two.

Remove the onion and garlic and set aside.

Cut the bacon into 1 inch pieces, peel apart and cook over medium to medium high heat until browned. Drain off fat and add the ham. Cook ham until lightly brown. Turn heat down to medium.

Add the sun dried tomatoes and onion/garlic mix to the ham and bacon. Maintain the heat. Add cooked drained hot pasta (cooked in salt but no oil) to the ingredients. Add eggs and stir until eggs are cooked. They will stick nicely to the pasta. Add Parmesan to the stir as well. Add salt as needed and freshly ground pepper.  This is an amazing meal!