No-Bacon Pasta Carbonara Loaded with Greens

Ingredients

Servings

4 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 14 16

US / METRIC

2 Tbsp

Olive Oil

1

Onion , thinly sliced

to taste

Kosher Salt

1 pinch

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

15 cups

Fresh Spinach

soaked in water to allow dirt to settle

or tatsoi, broccoli rabe, or various other greens

8 oz

Pappardelle Pasta

or Linguini, or Bucatini

2

Large Eggs

1/4 cup

Parmigiano-Reggiano

plus more for serving

1

Lemon , juiced

1 Tbsp juice per 4 servings

to taste

Coarse Salt

to taste

Coarse Black Pepper

Cooking Instructions

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Step 1

Set a large pot of salted water to boil. In a large skillet, heat the Olive Oil (2 Tbsp) over medium-high heat. When it shimmers, add the Onion (1) , immediately turn the heat down to medium, season with Kosher Salt (to taste) , and sauté stirring occasionally, until soft and just turning to color, 7 to 10 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, transfer Fresh Spinach (15 cups) to a colander to drain—it's OK if some of the water clings to the greens.

Step 3

Add a pinch of Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (1 pinch) to the onions and stir for 30 seconds. Add all of the greens.

Step 4

Cook over medium to medium-high heat until greens shrink way down—use tongs to flip the greens around and help them wilt. Season with a pinch of Kosher Salt (to taste) . Turn off the heat.

Step 5

Add the Pappardelle Pasta (8 oz) to boiling water and cook according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup (or more) of the pasta cooking liquid.

Step 6

In a medium bowl or liquid measure, whisk together Large Eggs (2) , Parmigiano-Reggiano (1/4 cup) , and juice from Lemon (1) . Whisk ¼ cup pasta water into the egg mixture.

Step 7

Drain pasta and immediately add to the pan with the onions and greens.

Step 8

Pour egg mixture into pan and toss with tongs to combine, turning heat to low or medium if greens have cooled way down.

Step 9

Season with Coarse Salt (to taste) and Coarse Black Pepper (to taste) . Add more lemon or more of the reserved pasta cooking liquid to taste. Sprinkle pasta with more cheese if desired and serve immediately.