Carbonara Pasta Bake.

Another delight in Italian food is Carbonara Pasta Bake which is oven baked pasta, prepared in traditional way, i.e. oven baking.

Here are the steps in preparing Carbonara Pasta Bake, anyone can try in their home.

A hassle-free carbonara recipe using eggs to create a thick, rich sauce. Serve straight from the pan or turn it into a pasta bake by popping it under the grill.

Ingredients

• 350g (12oz) egg Campanelle (pasta shaped like a bell or flower)
• 2 eggs (use pasturised eggs if possible)
• 2 egg yolks
• 6tbsp Parmesan, freshly grated
• 75g (3oz) Cheddar cheese, grated
• 227g can lean ham, diced
• 397g can chopped tomatoes, drained
• 170g can dairy cream, shaken
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 25g (1oz) butter
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Method

1. Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water according to the packet instructions, until just tender.
2. Meanwhile, beat together the eggs and egg yolks in a medium-sized bowl, stir in half the Cheddar cheese and half the Parmesan.
3. Heat the ham and tomatoes together in a small frying pan over a medium heat for 2 mins, reduce the heat to simmering, add the cream and parsley and stir.
4. Drain the pasta well, using a colander and put the pan which the pasta had been cooked in straight back on the hob to soften the butter in. Add in the cooked pasta and the ham and cream mixture and stir to combine.
5. Remove from the heat and add in the egg mixture, mixing well for 2-3 mins to allow the hot pasta to gently cook the eggs and for the carbonara to thicken. Season to taste and serve, topped with the remaining cheese and parsley garnish.
6. It is traditional to serve the carbonara as it is or you could transfer it to a baking dish, top with the remaining cheese and parsley then place it under a hot grill for 6-8 mins or until the topping is crisp and golden.