This easy to-make, gluten-free ham carbonara dish is the perfect dinner recipe! It yields an amazing flavor with minimal effort in no time!
Jump to RecipeA Delicious and Easy Dinner
Who doesn't love a restaurant-quality pasta dish from the comfort of your home? This gluten-free carbonara with crispy ham is as easy to make as it is delicious! It's the perfect dish to serve up for dinner, especially during the holiday season. It's everything you want out of holiday recipe: cozy, filling, and oh so tasty! But this is also one of those recipes that always hits the spot- no matter the time of year. So, whether you're serving it for Christmas Eve dinner or on a rainy night, this carbonara is guaranteed to be a hit!
Not to mention, any leftovers are just as delicious the next day or day after! Tossing the pasta in crispy ham and a delicious cheese mixture keeps this carbonara creamy for days to come. The ham also adds so much flavor to the recipe! This ham carbonara pasta proves itself to be more than just a pasta dish; it is more like comfort in a bowl. I promise you and your loved ones will love this carbonara just as much as I do! Keep reading to discover just how easy this pasta dish is to make!
What is Carbonara?
A carbonara is a very simple pasta dish that uses few ingredients to create a magical outcome! A carbonara is said to possibly come from the Umbria region in Italy somewhere around 1931. It was recorded that this pasta that was made with whipped eggs and pork fat. This pasta is believed to be a precursor to the carbonara we know today. It was only in 1950 that the name "carbonara" was first mentioned in an Italian newspaper called "La Stampa". Almost 75 years later, today there are many versions of how carbonara.
A carbonara is a pasta dish made with eggs, hard cheese, black pepper and cured pork. The dish usually uses either pecorino romano cheese or parmigiana, but sometimes a combination of the two. Pecorino Romano is a hard, salty cheese made from sheep's milk. The parmigiana cheese is a hard, Italian granular cheese produced from cows milk that is aged for at least a year. In this recipe, we will only be using parmigiana cheese. I decided not to use a blend because pecorino romano is more salty and the meat acts as the salty component for this dish.
As for the pasta, spaghetti pasta is traditionally used to make a carbonara. Although, sometimes linguine pasta is used in place of spaghetti as they have a similar length and shape. That being said, nowadays carbonara recipes are made with all different kinds of pasta! From rigatoni to penne, carbonara comes in all shapes and sizes. In this recipe we will be sticking to the traditional spaghetti. I opted to use the spaghetti because it has lots of versatility and pairs wonderfully with all sauces!
Ham Carbonara
As for the meat, carbonara is customary made with guanciale. Guanciale is meat from the jowl of a pig and it tastes a lot more delicious than it sounds! This cured pork is very fatty and less meaty than bacon or pancetta. As traditional guanciale is not always easy to find, so we'll be using ham for our carbonara recipe. Ham is a great replacement as it still has those delicious pork flavors, but is much more meaty. The guanciale comes from a pig cheeks, while the ham comes from pig legs. This type of cut makes the ham more lean than guanciale. So, in a way, using ham is actually the healthier alternative. This yields a lighter carbonara that uses less fat and has more protein.
What Type of Ham to Use
When it comes to ham, we won't just be using any ham. Like any type of meat, the cut and kind of ham that you use makes a huge difference in the flavor profile of this pasta dish. We need a ham that is thick, juicy and perfectly cooked. So, set the sliced deli meat to the side. We're going to discuss the best types of ham to use for this recipe!
Looking to make a homemade ham? I have an easy fool-proof ham recipe for your convenience! Baking a delicious ham can be intimidating, whether it's your first time or tenth time. So I put together everything you need to know in my ham recipe to ensure your first time baking one goes smoothly and is easy. I recommend using my recipe as it yields the perfect results to a juicy ham. Baking your ham at home will allow you to control its taste which impacts the flavor of this carbonara dish. And using a flavorful ham will take this dish to the next level!
However, it is understandable that not everyone wants to cook everything from scratch. You may opt for a store-bought ham to save yourself some time. The main thing to note is that you want to look for thicker cuts of ham for this ham carbonara. The thicker cut of ham is going to ensure that each bite is filled with some of that savory meat flavor. If you use a thin cut of ham, the flavor and texture impact will be far less. I recommend using a ham steak as this will give you a nice, thick ham to work with!
The Best Gluten-Free Spaghetti
Much like the ham, the type of gluten-free spaghetti noodle that you use makes a big difference. Gluten-free pasta can be hard to work with as many overcook quickly, leaving you with a mushy mess. I've tried and tested countless brands to find the very best. We need a pasta that will have a similar texture to that of traditional wheat pasta, and hold up well. Luckily, I've found the perfect gluten-free spaghetti that holds it shape and tastes amazing!
After much trial and error, I've found that the DeLallo Gluten-Free Spaghetti is the best option. This gluten-free spaghetti is made with whole grain brown rice. The DeLallo brand pasta doesn't break and has a very similar flavor to that of traditional pasta. The brand is also infamous for their gluten-free pastas having that signature al dente bit. It doesn't get more authentic than that! Plus, it even keeps its shape when reheated the next day!
Cooking the Carbonara Pasta
Let's jump into cooking our dish! We'll start off by making the gluten-free spaghetti. This ensures that the pasta water that we need for our sauce has plenty of time to cool. First, bring a large saucepan with water and a bit of salt to a rolling boil. I recommend cooking your spaghetti according to box instructions. The DeLallo has clear directions on how to ensure the pasta comes out al dente. This is important as overcooked pasta will change the overall taste of our recipe.
Before straining, make sure to reserve at least a third cup of pasta water. Pasta water is like liquid gold in cooking. It not only helps the sauce to thin to the right consistency, but also helps the sauce cling to the pasta noodle better. Ultimately, it helps to better integrate the pasta and sauce to create a creamy dish. Set the pasta water to the side to cool while you strain the spaghetti. Note that you should not rinse the pasta with water as it will remove the excess starch. This makes it harder to coat the noodles in the sauce.
Egg and Cheese Mixture
This delicious egg and cheese mixture is our "sauce". While it's not technically a sauce, it acts in a similar manner to coat the noodles and provide depths of flavor to our carbonara. Combining the egg and cheese mixture accordingly is a crucial step in this recipe. It's truly the basis and signature flavors of the carbonara itself. Without it, this recipe is just pasta and ham!
First, we need to separate our eggs. We'll be using two large eggs and two egg yolks for this recipe. The egg yolks will provide the carbonara with its infamous silky texture. Be sure to whisk the two together to thoroughly incorporate the yolks with the eggs. Then, add one third cup of cheese and a teaspoon of pepper to the mixture. Whisk to combine until a thick mixture has formed. This may resemble scrambled eggs in both color and consistency.
Note that we do not add our pasta water in at this step. As I mentioned, the pasta water needs to cool to room temperature before being added to the egg and cheese mixture. This is because the hot pasta water will actually cook the eggs. Then the mixture really will look like scrambled eggs! By making the pasta first, then setting the pasta water to the side and giving it time to cool, we can ensure that when we do add it that it will be the right temperature.
Crisping Up the Ham
Now for the fun part! It's time to crisp up the ham to add another layer of flavor to this carbonara recipe. Crisping up the ham also provides a great contrast to the texture of the pasta and sauce. But the real reason we crisp up the ham is for that delicious fat that the ham emits when cooked. This is what adds so much flavor to our dish! We'll actually toss our pasta in the fat to coat it, but more on that later.
Before we crisp up the ham, we first need to slice it to the appropriate size. Use a sharp knife to cut the ham into 1.5" slices. Traditionally, guanciale is cut to this measurement because it yields the perfect bite-sized pieces! Set the ham to the side, then melt unsalted butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. While the ham emits fat, we do need a little butter to start to prevent the ham from burning.
Once the butter has melted, add the sliced ham to the pot. Crisp up the ham over medium-high heat for roughly five minutes while stirring occasionally. This will help to get an even cook on all of the slices. Next, sprinkle a dash of pepper and salt over the ham. Adding pepper will tie into the flavor of the egg and cheese mixture. And although the ham is salty, it's less salty than traditional guanciale. So, adding a little bit helps to bring out those rich flavors.
Stir to combine and continue to cook for three minutes before turning the heat off. By the end, the ham should be smaller in size with crispy edges. As well, a good bit of fat should be in the pot by this point. Remember, do not drain the fat as we will be coating our pasta in this. If you'd like, you can taste test one of the slices of ham to see if it needs more pepper. Just note that there's also pepper in the egg and cheese mixture, as well we'll be adding a dash of pepper to finish our dish.
Combining the Ingredients
At last, it's time to combine all of the delicious ingredients. First, add the cooked pasta to the pot of ham and toss to combine. We toss it in the post first so that it can absorb all of the delicious fat from the ham. Plus, it ensures that everything prepared goes to use! So in this step, we want the pasta to be saturated in that ham and butter. This will add so much initial flavor to the pasta!
Next, add the cooled pasta water to the bowl with the egg mixture. I recommend slowly pouring it in as you whisk to combine. This will help to integrate the ingredients and yields a better consistency. Note that you only need a third cup of water for this step. If you reserved more, set it to the side. You can always add a little bit more pasta water after the pasta and sauce are combined. However, I recommend waiting until then to see if you need more. The last thing we want is a sauce that's too thin and doesn't stick to the noodles.
Once thoroughly combined, it's time to add the pasta with the ham. Use a spatula to fold the pasta in and thoroughly coat it in the sauce. Using a spatula is a more gentle approach to mixing the ingredients and avoids breaking the gluten-free noodles. Continue to fold the pasta into the sauce until each noodle is coated in the egg, cheese and pasta water mixture. Finally, add the remaining cheese and dash of pepper. You should have a thick and silky textured pasta. Toss to combine one more time before serving warm. Voila! You now have your fully prepared ham carbonara.
How to Store This Carbonara
Don't be fooled by the few ingredients, the carbonara is very filling! If you happen to have leftovers after serving it, simply store them in an air tight container. This will keep the pasta fresh for up to one week! Then, there are a few methods to reheat the pasta. First, you can just add the desired amount to a bowl and place it in the microwave. Second, you can add a bit of butter to a pan and warm up your carbonara on the stovetop. This method takes slightly longer but will ensure the pasta is still nice and creamy.
When to Serve and What to Pair With
Undoubtedly this makes for a fantastic dish for dinner! But you might be wondering what you can pair with it. Luckily, there are many dishes that go well with this ham carbonara! I've listed a few of my favorites below for you to choose from:
- Gluten-Free Focaccia Bread: Who knew making focaccia bread without gluten would be so easy! This delicious bread yields the perfect texture and tastes so similar to restaurant-style focaccia that you wouldn't even know the difference. A great side dish to this ham carbonara meal!
- Eggplant Parmesan Fries: If you love traditional eggplant parm, these crispy fries are for you! These gluten-free, oven baked fries are the perfect appetizer to serve alongside garlic aioli. This also makes for a fun side to the carbonara!
- Vegan Kale Caesar Salad with Turmeric Chickpeas: There's nothing better than a good salad! This Tuscan kale salad with vegan Caesar dressing and crunchy, turmeric-roasted chickpeas is so easy to make and tastes even better than it sounds! This would make for a great light option as a side to our carbonara.
As I mentioned, this carbonara makes for a great holiday dish! Serve it for Christmas Eve dinner with a side salad for the perfect easy dinner. Loved one will be impressed with how quickly this recipe comes together and even more impressed with how delicious it tastes! Just be prepared to hand out the recipe!
Other Ham Recipes
If you decided to cook a ham for scratch for this recipe, then you'll definitely need ideas to utilize all that delicious leftover ham! Luckily, I've got some other great dishes that involve ham to ensure you get the most use of your meat.
- Croque Monsieur Breakfast: You'll fall in love with the rich flavors, crispy ham, and cheesy finish. Delicious and easy, this croque monsieur breakfast bake recipe is one you won't want to miss as its guaranteed to transform your mornings with just one bite!
- Gluten-free Ham and Cheese Pinwheels: These ham and cheese pinwheels are such a great dish to serve up in a lunch or dinner gathering! This is one of my favorite recipes to make and look forward to the delicious outcome each time.
- Split Pea Soup: There's just something about homemade soup that is instantly comforting. It has the ability to warm us up from the inside out and turn even the worst day around. And there's no soup that is cozier on a cold night than Split Pea Soup!
- Walnut and Pea Pesto Pasta Salad: Elevate the classic pasta salad with this delicious walnut and pea pesto sauce! This vibrant, gluten-free recipe is ideal for warm summer days, backyard barbecues, and potluck parties.
On the other hand, if you made my Holiday Ham recipe for Christmas or Easter, then this carbonara recipe serves as a great way to utilize that leftover ham! There's so many delicious ways to take advantage of a baked ham. It just comes down to which recipe you'll choose!
Gluten-Free Ham Carbonara
Course: DinnerCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy6
servings15
minutes20
minutesThis delicious gluten-free pasta recipe comes together in less than an hour and has restaurant-quality flavors!
Ingredients
1 box of gluten-free spaghetti (14 ounces)
⅓ cup pasta water
2 large eggs
2 egg yolks
½ cup garmigiano reggiano, freshly grated
2 teaspoons pepper
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup ham
Directions
- Cook the gluten-free spaghetti according to box instructions. Before straining, reserve ⅓ cup of pasta water. Then, strain and set the reserved pasta water to the side to cool.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and egg yolks. Then, add ⅓ cup of the cheese and one teaspoon pop black pepper. Whisk to combine, then set to the side.
- In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Cut the ham into 1.5" slices, then add to the pot.
- Crisp up the ham for five minutes. Then add ½ teaspoon pepper and the salt. Stir to combine and continue to cook for three minutes until the slices of ham are slightly crispy around the edges.
- Remove from heat and add the cooked pasta to the pot and toss to combine. Be sure to thoroughly mix together to coat the pasta noodles in the crispy ham.
- Once the pasta water has cooled, add it to the bowl with egg mixture. Whisk to combine before adding the pasta and ham to the large bowl.
- Use a spatula to fold the pasta in and thoroughly coat it in the sauce.
- Then, add the remaining cheese and pepper. Toss to combine one more time before serving warm.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Store in an air-tight container and refrigerate up to one week.
[…] Gluten-Free Ham Carbonara Pasta: This is a great dish to whip up for a quick dinner! This easy to-make, gluten-free ham carbonara dish is the perfect dinner recipe. It yields an amazing flavor with minimal effort in no time! Who doesn't love a restaurant-quality pasta dish from the comfort of your home? […]