About The Recipe
Making cannabis infused pasta is an easy and delicious way to enjoy cannabis edibles. Whenever I make infused pasta, it’s either via an infused sauce which I combine with the pasta, or I’m cooking the meat for the pasta in an infused oil. It’s important to note that when you’re cooking with cannabis oil with heat, you are using a low-medium heat so that the heat does not degrade the cannabinoids. Applying a bit of heat is ok, but not too much.
What is Carbonara?
Carbonara is a classic Italian pasta dish featuring a creamy sauce made from eggs, cheese, pancetta or guanciale (cured pork), and black pepper. It is traditionally believed to have originated in central Italy, specifically in the Lazio region around Rome. Its exact origins are somewhat debated, but it’s often associated with post-World War II Italy.
One theory actually suggests that the dish was created through American influence as soldiers overseas brought bacon and eggs to Europe during the war. The origins of recipes are usually up in the air so it’s really hard to say where it officially came from - but nonetheless I’m so glad this creamy, delicious pasta was invented and is here to stay!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No Cannabis Taste — A lot of the time you’ll find that infused foods and drinks may taste a little bit like the plant which for some people is not ideal. Don’t worry though, this delicious smoothie tastes like nothing other than chocolatey goodness!
- No Butter Needed — Since we’re using our cannabis-infused oil for this pasta, there is no butter needed!
Ingredient Substitutions
- Pork Belly: I know pork belly is NOT an authentic way to make carbonara but unfortunately the grocery store did not have guanciale or pancetta, and I didn’t want to just use American bacon. Any fatty pork meat will work for this recipe, or you can leave it meatless.
- Cheese: I used parmesan and grana padano, but alot of traditional recipes also use pecorino. Premium cheeses can be pretty expensive so just use whatever is accessible to you. I do find that combining two or more cheeses creates a more robust flavour though!
- Cannabis olive oil: I used cannabis olive oil because I usually use olive oil to cook my pastas. You can also use butter if you want a creamier pasta. I wouldn’t recommend any other infused oils just because the taste might affect the overall dish. Opt for a neutral oil and keep it on low-medium heat to avoid oxidization of cannabinoids.
TIPS & TRICKS
- Always save extra pasta water!
- Mise en place is going to be the key to success here. I prepped all the ingredients as I was cooking and that was a huge mistake. With carbonara you really have to work quickly and efficiently so I would recommend having all your ingredients ready (ie. grate your cheeses before starting).
Recipe
SERVINGS: 2
TIME REQUIRED: 30 mins
INGREDIENTS
- 4 oz bucatini
- 1 tbsps cannabis olive oil
- 1 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- 3 oz pork belly
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
- 1/3 cup grated Grana Padano or Pecorino
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat up a frying pan to medium heat.
- Cut up the pork belly into small pieces.
- Cook the pork belly on the pan until medium brown and crispy.
- When the pork belly is almost finished cooking, add the cannabis olive oil and regular olive oil to the pan.
- Remove the pork belly from the pan and set aside. Turn off the stove for now.
- Boil the bucatini with 1 tbsp salt according to the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and set aside. For al dente pasta, remove from heat and drain 1-2 minutes before pasta is cooked.
- While the pasta is boiling, grate the cheese and set aside.
- In a medium mixing boil, combine the eggs and cheese together. Whisk well until incorporated.
- Grind half of the black peppercorns into the egg and cheese liquid.
- Heat the frying pan back to low-medium heat and add half of the pasta water.
- Use a wooden spoon to scrape the crispy brown bits off the pan. Keep these bits as they add great flavour to the pasta!
- Add the cooked pasta to the pan and gradually whisk in the egg batter. You want to do this on very low temperature heat to avoid overcooking the eggs. Frequently toss the pasta to avoid making scrambled eggs.
- When the pasta is fully coated, add the pork belly back to the pan and turn off the heat.
- Plate the pasta and add more pepper, salt, and cheese to your liking.
Note: In order to make cannabis edibles at home, you first need to make cannabis infusions. Learn how to make cannabis-infused oil and butter with any LEVO cannabis infusion device. Use my link to get 10% off the LEVO infusion machines here.
FAQ
Q: Do I have to use pork belly?
A: You don’t have to use pork belly! The original recipe usually calls for pancetta or guanciale but when I went to the grocery store they didn’t have either of those so I used what I could find. You could also opt for american style bacon or no meet at all!
Q: How long will this carbonara take to kick in?
A: This dish is considered to be a cannabis edible, which means that it has to be ingested and processed by your liver before heading up to your blood brain barrier. The onset of cannabis edibles can range from person to person, and can also be impacted by a variety of factors, such as one’s metabolism. Generally cannabis infused foods can take anywhere from 30 minutes all the way to 2 hours for the onset, and the experience can last between 4 to 12 hours.
Q: Does this recipe make a saucy pasta?
A: Carbonara is generally not super saucy by definition. What makes it so tasty is the fact that the sauce sticks to the pasta so well and incorporates into a thick, mouthwatering coating. The consistency of this pasta is very different from a regular saucy pasta like spaghetti but boy oh boy is it good.
Hey I’m Anna, also known as Cannabinista™
I’m a cannabis content creator, recipe developer, and enthusiast for the ancient plant. I’ve dedicated my platforms to helping you create a healthy relationship with cannabis through mindful consumption and providing education that resonates with the modern consumer.
My ultimate goal is to debunk traditional stoner stereotypes and myths, by showcasing the world of cannabis through my POV.
