Whole wheat spaghetti with fake guanciale

Whole wheat spaghetti with fake guanciale is an excellent vegetarian variation of the classic Italian dish, spaghetti alla carbonara. Instead of guanciale, we will use vegetable ingredients to replicate the smoky flavor and texture. Here’s a simple recipe you can follow.

Ingredients

• 320g of whole wheat spaghetti
• 150g of zucchini
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
• 100g of smoked tofu
• 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
• 1 clove of garlic
• Black pepper to taste
• Salt to taste

Preparation

1. Begin by bringing a pot full of salted water to a boil for the spaghetti.
2. Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into very small cubes, almost to imitate the size of guanciale.
3. Heat the olive oil in a non-stick frying pan and add the whole garlic clove to flavor the oil. Remove it as soon as it starts to brown.
4. Add the zucchini to the pan and let them sauté until they are golden and crispy.
5. Cut the smoked tofu into cubes the same size as the zucchini and add to the pan.
6. Season with soy sauce and smoked paprika and continue to cook for a few minutes, stirring well, until the tofu is golden and crispy. Adjust with salt and pepper if necessary.
7. Drop the whole wheat spaghetti into the boiling water and cook according to the instructions on the package until al dente.
8. Drain the spaghetti, saving some of the cooking water, and pour them into the pan with the fake guanciale.
9. Toss the spaghetti with the fake guanciale, adding a little cooking water if necessary to make the dish creamier.
10. Serve hot with a sprinkling of black pepper.

Curiosity

Smoked tofu provides that touch of smokiness that recalls bacon or guanciale, while soy sauce adds umami and depth of flavor. Smoked paprika, with its distinctive flavor, further enriches the “fake guanciale” effect. This dish is an example of how creative modifications can adapt classic recipes to vegetarian or vegan diets without losing the memory of traditional flavors.