Description

A flavorful twist on traditional carbonara, this Spicy Miso Carbonara combines crispy bacon with the umami-rich taste of white miso and a kick of chili heat from sambal oelek. The creamy sauce is made by whisking eggs, parmesan, and spicy miso mixture, tossed with perfectly cooked pasta for a quick and satisfying meal garnished with green onions and furikake.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein and Cheese

4 oz Bacon
4 Eggs
1 cup Parmesan Cheese (freshly grated; more for serving)

Sauce and Seasonings

1/4 cup White Miso
2 tablespoons Sambal Oelek (or other chili garlic sauce)
1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional; adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon Black Pepper (freshly ground; more for serving)

Pasta and Garnishes

1 lb Pasta (spaghetti or linguine recommended; reserve 1 cup pasta water)
Sliced Green Onion (for serving)
Furikake Seasoning (for serving)

Instructions

Cook the bacon: In a pan over medium heat, cook the bacon on both sides until crispy. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat. Once cool, cut into small pieces.
Prepare the sauce mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the white miso paste, sambal oelek, red pepper flakes, and freshly ground black pepper. Add the eggs and whisk again until smooth. Stir in the grated parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup of hot pasta water to create a creamy, well-combined sauce.
Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the hot pasta water.
Toss everything together: In a large bowl, add the chopped bacon, then immediately add the hot cooked pasta and the egg-miso-cheese sauce mixture. Quickly toss all the ingredients together to ensure the eggs gently cook without scrambling, adding additional reserved pasta water as needed to reach a silky consistency.
Serve: Plate the carbonara immediately. Garnish with extra parmesan cheese, freshly ground black pepper, sliced green onions, and a sprinkle of furikake seasoning for added flavor and texture.

Notes

Be sure to toss the pasta and egg mixture quickly while the pasta is hot to prevent scrambling the eggs.
You can adjust the spice level by varying the amount of sambal oelek and red pepper flakes according to your heat preference.
Reserve pasta water is critical to achieve the perfect sauce consistency—add gradually as needed.
Furikake adds an extra umami and crunchy texture, but it can be omitted if unavailable.
Use freshly grated parmesan for the best flavor and creaminess.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Fusion (Italian-Japanese)

Keywords: Spicy Miso Carbonara, Miso Pasta, Bacon Carbonara, Spicy Pasta, Sambal Oelek Carbonara, Fusion Pasta