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pasta in a white bowl
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4.78 from 9 votes

Elote Pasta Carbonara

This flavorful pasta is a complete mash-up, featuring the flavors of Elote (Mexican Street Corn) in a creamy, saucy Italian-inspired pasta. The result is a fast and colorful summer-friendly pasta.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Pasta / Noodles
Cuisine: Italian, Tex Mex
Keyword: easy pasta dinner, easy, weeknight-friendly, family friendly, pork, summer
Servings: 4
Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
Cost: $6.00

Equipment

  • Stockpot
  • Skillet
  • Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

  • 8 strips Bacon, chopped
  • 2 cups Corn Kernels (use fresh or frozen)
  • 12 ounces Dried Spaghetti
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 2 large Egg Yolks
  • 1/2 cup grated Cotija Cheese, plus more for topping
  • 1 teaspoon Tajin Seasoning (sub chili powder)
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Lime Wedges, for garnish

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of well-salted water to boil.
  • While water is coming to a boil, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to cool. Drain off all but a thin layer of bacon grease from the skillet.
  • Add corn to heated bacon grease and saute until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. If you’d like to get a bit of a char on the corn, keep cooking it until it turns golden brown in spots. Set aside.
  • By now the water should be boiling, so add spaghetti. Boil according to package directions. (Set a timer so that the pasta is al dente - tender but not overcooked.)
  • While pasta cooks, in a large mixing bowl whisk together eggs, egg yolks, cotija cheese, and Tajin.
  • Drain pasta, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water.
  • Working quickly, add hot pasta to bowl with the egg mixture. Use tongs to toss the pasta in the eggs about 20 to 30 times. Let pasta rest for a minute and then toss again. If the sauce seems dry, add a small amount of the pasta water, tossing well again.
  • When the pasta is saucy and creamy, fold in corn and bacon, reserving a small amount if you'd like to use it as garnish.
  • Taste pasta and season with salt and pepper.
  • Divide pasta between bowls and top with any of the reserved corn, bacon, and / or cheese. Garnish with lime wedge. Sprinkle with some extra Tajin if you’d like. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 676kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 231mg | Sodium: 700mg | Potassium: 445mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 392IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 141mg | Iron: 3mg