Whole wheat orecchiette, crispy charred brussels sprouts, salty pancetta, and sautéed shiitake mushrooms get cloaked in a creamy carbonara sauce for an absolutely irresistible pasta.
This recipe has made it official.
I don’t even know if I can admit to this after complaining and kvetching and professing my dislike for the dastardly, bitter little clusters of Brussels sprouts for lo’ these many years.
And now, here I am. Posting a full-on recipe of my very own choosing. And worse, my cravings.
Excuse me? Did I just admit to craving Brussels sprouts? Hell hath frozen over. Or maybe that was Boston?
This year I’m pleased as punch to be working again with DeLallo Foods and sharing some of my favorite products of theirs with you.
I’m a big pasta fan, but not a huge whole wheat pasta fan. Unless it’s DeLallo whole wheat pasta. The texture, the flavor, it all adds up to a meal where I am more than happy to add the extra fiber and whole grains to the family dinner table without any sort of sideways looks from the rest of the fam.
In fact, when I made this pasta to take the photos, Smudge had a few friends over and they all not only didn’t bat an eye at the idea of whole wheat pasta but they ate they ate every last one of the Brussels sprouts and then asked for seconds. Extra nutrition and happy young eaters? This recipe is a win-win all the way around.
About the Recipe
There are several saving graces to this Brussels sprouts based recipe. Saving graces that make it a recipe I’ve made more than once—say what????? Yep, this hater is now *shhh* a lover. The first would be giving those little leaves a good crispy, crunchy char. Browning them takes away a bit of the bitter flavor and salting them as they char makes them crispy and gives them a great punch of flavor. Just like chocolate!
The next saving grace is sliced shiitake mushrooms. I love anything with mushrooms and while they aren’t usually in a traditional carbonara, they make a welcome appearance here.
But now, let’s get back back to the classic flavors of carbonara with crisped pancetta and salty cheese in a creamy sauce. Mixing the egg yolks into the pasta really, really well is the key. It’s what gives the sauce its body, and, you don’t want to take a bite into boiled egg yolk instead of a creamy sauce.
The whole wheat orecchiette is boiled to al dente then cooked for another minute or two in the sauce of reserved pasta water and melted butter. Oh, how that lovely sauce permeates and drapes each little ear of pasta. Penne or shell pasta would work well here too.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram or Twitter with #foodiecrusheats.
- 10 ounces DeLallo whole wheat orecchiette
- 2 tablespoons DeLallo extra virgin olive oil
- 8 ounces brussels sprouts, trimmed and leaves separated
- 3 ounces pancetta, chopped
- 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 large egg yolks, beaten
- Bring a medium sauce pan of water to a boil and season generously with kosher salt. Add the DeLallo whole wheat orecchiette and cook until al dente. Drain and reserve the pasta water.
- While the pasta is cooking, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a large, high sided sauté pan over high heat. Add the brussels sprouts leaves and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the leaves are lightly charred, turning occasionally. Season with kosher salt and transfer to a bowl.
- Heat the last tablespoon of olive oil in the pan over medium high heat and cook the pancetta until browned and crispy, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms to the pan and cook for another 3 minutes. Season with freshly ground black pepper.
- Lower the temperature and add ½ cup of the reserved pasta water to the pan and then add 1 tablespoon of the butter at a time, whisking until the sauce is smooth and adding more pasta water until the sauce thickens and becomes silky. Add the pasta to the sauce and cook for about 2 minutes then add the parmesan cheese and stir to combine. Add the beaten eggs and stir into the pasta until totally incorporated into the pasta. Add the charred brussels sprout leaves and garnish with more parmesan and serve.
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Make it a great day and cook something good.
This post is part of my partnership with DeLallo Foods. As always, thank you for reading and for supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. All opinions are always my own.
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Love the charred bits of these Brussels! And I am with you – there is no better brand of whole wheat pasta than DeLallo. I’ve tried others and they’re super gritty. Will you make me this next week? 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous photography.
I need this for dinner. TONIGHT. I love DeLallo’s whole wheat pasta, it’s all I buy 🙂
Ok, Jess from How Sweet Eats just posted charred cauliflower and now you with the charred Brussels – two of my all-time fave foods!! I would eat both every single day if I could. Don’t you worry – you’re not the only one who craves em! 🙂
Oh my goodness my mouth is watering! I’m crazy for mushrooms and my husband is crazy for brussels sprouts, so this would be a perfect compromise dish. Lovely!
I wish I could make an open-mouth emoji to describe my face right now. This. Is. Gorgeous. Can I come over for dinner? I’ll bring dessert 🙂
Carbonara is one of my all-time favorite pasta indulgences, it’s so simple, yet so flavorful at the same time. THIS is like a fancied up version, I love all the little additions, and I happen to be a giant brussels sprout fan, so those guys don’t scare me at all. Love the little orecchiette!
Oh my! This dish looks incredible…love those brussel sprouts 😀
Oh hello, delicious bowl of pasta goodness. COME TO MAMA.
Yah to brussels sprouts. I was always the weird kid who loved them and I make my Mum serve them on Christmas Day even though it isn’t exactly brussels sprouts season in Australia then. But hey we moved here from England and you need to take traditions with you 🙂
This pasta looks delicious – from the brussels sprouts to the mushrooms to the pancetta to the actual noodles. I’ve never made carbonara pasta, but I put a fried egg on basically everything, so I’m pretty sure I would love an egg mixed into pasta.
All of my favorite things in one irresistible pasta dish. Welcome to the I Love Brussels Sprouts club! 🙂
Had to make this tonight! Had all the ingredients except pancetta. So I made it a meatless monday recipe. It was delicious! It’s added to my recipe book. Thanks!
I LOVE the looks of this dish! Brussels sprouts have definitely grown on me this past year…I have memories of horrible, mushy, overcooked things, but they deserve so much more than that reputation! This pasta looks so delicious, and a perfect week-night dinner!
I’m all about crispy brussels sprouts, killer dish!
This pasta looks amazing! I’m sure it’s absolutely delicious. Love the flavour combo you used. I will try your recipe.
This is my definition of comfort food! Yum!
Okay, so until last year, I had never had Brussels Sprouts. My mom made them on a winter weekend and my life was changed. I can eat these little cabbages for a snack and be perfectly happy. Carbonara pasta…yum!
I am always delighted to find Brussels sprouts cooked in a myriad of different styles. Opposing your statement about the “dastardly little cluster”, I would have to say it was my favourite vegetable growing up, my mom would stir fry them in oyster sauce, Asian style. And this recipe bring those memories tumbling forth. About the combination pasta/little sproutsters. Paradise on taste buds!
All I have to say is WOW!!! This pasta is amazing. I used white mushrooms instead of the shiitakes. I was very impressed. I will be making this again.
Hi Cidnii, So glad you enjoyed it. And yes, mushrooms of most any flavor work in it. Thanks for the comment.
This might be my new favorite dish! I made it tonight and both my husband and I LOVED it. I can’t wait to eat the leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
You had leftovers? I’m jealous! So glad you enjoyed it!
This is an awesome recipe!
Have cooked it 3 times in the past 2 weeks.
It’s the height of brussel sprout season over here in Australia right now so it wont be the last wee cook it this season.
Thank you!