World's Best Vegan Carbonara (2025)

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World's Best Vegan Carbonara

Questa ricetta è disponibile anche in italiano

This is hands down the world's best vegan carbonara, made the traditional Italian way and completely cruelty free. Try it today and be amazed at what vegan cookery can create!

World's Best Vegan Carbonara (1)

Yes, the title that caught your attention is true. Trust me and I will take you through the easy steps in how we create the best vegan and plant based carbonara anywhere in the world and all from the comfort of your own kitchen. This vegan carbonara has nothing to envy when compared to those served in the best restaurants of the Italian capital.

Carbonara is a famous dish from Rome and it contains only 5 key ingredients. Pasta, egg yolk, bacon, grated cheese and black pepper.

Did you know...?
The ingredient that gives the dish the name is the pepper. The name is, in fact, based upon the idea of "carbon"ara = coal which gives the dish its signature taste of peppery heat. You should see the flakes of pepper throughout the dish, a dish coated with a beautiful egg yolk sauce.

While pepper is an essential ingredient, the most important one of the carbonara is without doubt the egg yolk. The sauce of the traditional recipe basically consists in beaten egg yolks that will gently cook with the aid of some hot pasta water, whilst still being creamy and glossy. Clearly eggs are something that are a no go for plant based food. This is where this amazing recipe can be introduced: in as little as 3 quick and easy steps you will achieve the perfect vegan egg yolk and that WILL change you life.

You have no doubt seen carbonara on the menus of restaurants around the world, or sold as ready meals in local shops, but many of these are not real carbonaras, at least not the authentic Roman version.

If you use any of these common ingredients mentioned below you are NOT making a traditional carbonara, but a reinterpretation:

- garlic
- onion
- cream
- wine
- vegetables

There are many variations but I want to show you the classic recipe because this is Italian cooking so why any other variation?

As with many dishes, it finds itself from humble beginnings. Rumor has it that a Roman cook put the dish together using the few ingredients American soldiers had with them after the liberation.

So many thanks to you, Sir Roman cook, for giving birth to such a humble yet mouthwatering dish that is now appreciated all over the globe!

What we need for Vegan Carbonara

There are not many choices to make with this dish due to its simplicity but one of the few is the type of pasta you wish to use. Traditional carbonara is made with spaghetti but you can use, if you wish any other long style pasta such as linguine or bucatini. You can even use bronze pasta for a less rustic version if you wish.

Now for the "bacon", the element that will give a smoky element which works incredibly well with the peppery finish. There are countless options for what you can use here, the first choice is home made or store bought. Personally I love a seitan based bacon for this dish, it has the perfect texture and smoky taste I am looking for. There are son many option on the market I am sure you have your own favourite and I am sure it will work well here. I like to use a Swedish brand available here in the UK.

You can, if you really wish depending on taste or dietary requirements use tofu or tempeh although this is straying off the path maybe a little too much.

Now the egg yolk, a non negotiable element of carbonara and, unfortunately, I have yet to find a good store bough egg that I am happy with. This is why I strongly recommend you try this recipe to make your own. It is easy and fast and I am confident you will be amazed by the result. It ill give you the perfect yolk, something that made even my rather picky husband super happy.

World's Best Vegan Carbonara (2)

This egg mixture will provide the body of our sauce and is made possible by an ingredient called black salt aka kala namak. Once you have tried it I am sure you will want to try all manner of other egg based dishes to see just what magic it can help create. Quiches, omelettes, scrambled eggs, stuffed eggs, pies and savory muffins are all possible.

How can you have a good carbonara without cheese? I mean you could if you are intolerant to dairy but since we are vegan and we are making a happy carbonara there is no need to miss out by having a sad carbonara, is there?
As per the vegan bacon, use what you like best; any that reminds you of pecorino or parmesan will do. You can use the countless offers in the grocery store or try to make a totally homemade version, following the recipe of my fantastic aged chickpea cheese.
There's only one rule here: do not omit it!

Salt and of course pepper. The pepper element should not be missing. It must be generously and packed of peppery heat.

Now all that is left is for you to enjoy your 100% cruelty free carbonara!

Ingredients:
300 g Pasta
100 g Plant Based Bacon (use your favourite)
1 dose Vegan Egg Yolk
40 g Grated Vegan Cheese
1 Ladle of Pasta Water (the water you cooked the pasta in)
Black Pepper
Salt

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Method:
1. Make the Vegan Egg Yolk following this recipe.
2. Bring salted water to a rolling boil and then cook the pasta very al dente. The pasta will finish cooking later. Set aside but save at least 1 ladle of the water.
3. Caramelize your plant based bacon in a pan with a little oil.
4. Add the al dente pasta to the pan with the bacon.
5. Now pour in a ladle of the cooking water you saved to the pan and cook for a further minute.
6. Add the vegan yolk you made in step 1 along with pepper and half of the grated cheese. Cook for a further 2 minutes.
7. Serve straight from the pan with a handful of the remaining cheese and more freshly grated black pepper.

World's Best Vegan Carbonara (4)

Notes:

Do not cook the pasta completely in step 2. The pasta will naturally cook when you bring the dish together in steps 4 through 6. Cook the pasta to the instructions on the packet - 3 minutes.

World's Best Vegan Carbonara (5)

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

This is hands down the world's best vegan carbonara, made the traditional Italian way and completely cruelty free.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 300 g (10.58 oz) Pasta
  • 100 g (0.4 cups) Plant Based Bacon use your favourite
  • 1 dose Vegan Egg Yolk
  • 40 g (0.3 cups) Grated Vegan Cheese
  • 1 Ladle of Pasta Water the water you cooked the pasta in
  • Black Pepper
  • Salt

3people

Instructions

  • Make the Vegan Egg Yolk following this recipe.

  • Bring salted water to a rolling boil and then cook the pasta very al dente. The pasta will finish cooking later. Set aside but save at least 1 ladle of the water.

  • Caramelize your plant based bacon in a pan with a little oil.

  • Add the al dente pasta to the pan with the bacon.

  • Now pour in a ladle of the cooking water you saved to the pan and cook for a further minute.

  • Add the vegan yolk you made in step 1 along with pepper and half of the grated cheese. Cook for a further 2 minutes.

  • Serve straight from the pan with a handful of the remaining cheese and more freshly grated black pepper.

Notes

Do not cook the pasta completely in step 2. The pasta will naturally cook when you bring the dish together in steps 4 through 6. Cook the pasta to the instructions on the packet - 3 minutes.

Did you like this recipe?Follow @avegtastefromatoz and tag #avegtastefromatoz when you try it!

World's Best Vegan Carbonara (6)

For other yummy pasta dishes do not miss:
-
- Creamy Cauliflower and Mushroom Pasta
- Sea Flavoured Courgettes (Zucchini) and Blossom Pasta
- Asparagus, Broccolini, Courgette and Pea Pesto
- Caramelized Onion, Olives and Hummus Pasta
- Oil Free Vegan Alfredo
- Super Easy Green Bean Pasta Bake
- Pasta with Butternut Squash and Smokey Crispy Seaweed
- Vegan Seafood Pasta
- Pasta with Wild Mushrooms and Parsley+Avocado Pesto
- Creamy Courgette and Rocket Pasta (with Homemade Stracchino Cheese)
- Courgette Blossom Pasta
- Creamy Avocado Pasta with Mixed Nuts and Cherries
-

Related

World's Best Vegan Carbonara (2025)

FAQs

What is vegan carbonara made of? ›

A: Vegan carbonara typically includes ingredients like spaghetti, a creamy sauce made from silken tofu or cashew nuts blended with plant-based milk, vegan bacon made from either seitan, mushrooms, tofu or tempeh for that smoky flavour. Spices and seasonings such as black pepper and garlic add depth to the dish.

Which ingredient should never be used in traditional carbonara? ›

What not to put in Spaghetti Carbonara? Don't put garlic, cream, milk or butter. It is not needed. It is fine if you want to make a dish with those ingredients, but if you want to learn how to make this dish correctly, use only pecorino, eggs/egg yolks, black pepper, guanciale, and pasta water.

What is a good substitute for bacon in carbonara? ›

Of course, you could substitute the bacon for pancetta, prosciutto, or the classic guanciale!

What is a carbonara without meat called? ›

Pasta cacio e uova, or cas' e ova in Neapolitan dialect, is a simple Campanian dish that can be most easily summarized as "meatless carbonara." Like carbonara, cas' e ova features a silky, temperature-sensitive sauce made with eggs and a mixture of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino Romano that coats al dente ...

Is the egg in carbonara raw? ›

Introduction. Spaghetti alla carbonara is a traditional Italian dish, appreciated and prepared worldwide. In summary, this recipe includes the combination of pasta with cured pork, grated cheese, black pepper and beaten raw eggs (Hosking, 2007).

Why is carbonara so good? ›

Egg yolks and whole eggs – The egg combined with the guanciale fat is what makes the stunning creamy carbonara sauce that the world is obsessed with. There's no need for cream for a creamy sauce! See section above for why. We use a combination of whole eggs, plus egg yolks for richness.

What is the golden rule of cooking a carbonara? ›

The golden rule to silky carbonara is to whisk your egg whites so that they're completely incorporated with the egg yolks. This will create a smooth, velvety sauce. As like any pasta dish, including carbonara, cook the pasta perfectly al dente so that it's soft but still firm, with some bite.

What do Italians use instead of bacon? ›

Sometimes called “Italian bacon”, pancetta is a pork belly side, salted and cured with pepper, spices and rolled into a casing.

What is the difference between modern carbonara and classic carbonara? ›

Modern spaghetti carbonara is a twist on the classic and while it is a little different from the original, the most important rule remains, IT IS MADE WITH EGGS AND ABSOLUTELY NO CREAM!

What is the difference between British carbonara and carbonara? ›

British Carbonara is a twist on the classic Italian pasta dish. This version replaces the traditional pancetta or bacon with British-style back bacon, giving it a unique flavor. The creamy sauce is made with eggs, Parmesan cheese, and a touch of cream.

What is carbonara called in Italy? ›

Cacio e uova is documented as far back as 1839 and, according to researchers, anecdotal evidence indicates that some Italians born before World War II associate that name with the dish now known as "carbonara".

What is the difference between carbonara and alfredo? ›

The difference between alfredo and carbonara is that carbonara contains an egg while alfredo sauce does not. Carbonara is usually thinner in consistency than alfredo sauce, using the egg to coat the noodles instead of relying on the cream.

What is carbonara made of? ›

The ingredients are simple—just spaghetti (or another long pasta), and the carbonara is made with pancetta or bacon, eggs, Parmesan, a little olive oil, salt and pepper. The silky carbonara sauce is created when the beaten eggs are tossed with the hot pasta and a little fat from the pancetta or bacon.

What does vegan pasta have in it? ›

Gluten-free and vegan varieties tend to replace durum wheat with a different kind of flour that doesn't contain gluten, such as rice or corn flour, and like other dried varieties they don't use eggs so are also gluten-free. Check out Dove Farms pasta, who tick both boxes.

Does carbonara have a lot of dairy? ›

One, authentic carbonara doesn't have cream added into it. It's just eggs and cheese that make up the prime ingredients.

What's the difference between pasta and carbonara? ›

Pasta is a type of Italian dish made from an unleavened dough of durum wheat flour and water. It comes in many shapes and sizes, such as spaghetti, fettuccine, and penne. Spaghetti carbonara is a specific dish made from spaghetti pasta tossed with a sauce made of eggs, cheese, pancetta (or bacon), and black pepper.

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