salsalady
eXtreme Business
Salsalady's Chipotle Chocolate Carbonara Pasta
I'd been thinking of doing a carbonara for dinner today, and the TD inspiration hit! Down at the corner market, I was considering their very nice selection of chocolates-
-when I remembered I had THIS at home courtesy of my Secret Santa gift exchange!
Most of the important ingredients-
Lindt Chili Dark Chocolate
chipotle in adobo
some carne asada sliced beef (3/4 pound?)
1 lb bacon
1/2 onion
pasta- linguine or fettuccine, pre-cooked, about 3/4 pound of dry pasta
1 qt Half-n-half, 4 oz cream cheese
capers
EVOO, garlic, salt, pepper
Prepped ingredients-
Dice Bacon, render out in a heavy cast iron pan or similar until crispy. Remove and set aside.
While the bacon is cooking, in a separate heavy cast iron or similar pan on medium heat, caramelize slivered onions in EVOO, with a bit of diced bacon, salt, pepper (sorry, geeme! ). When nicely brown, add 4 -6 cloves minced garlic, cook 3-4 minutes being careful not to burn the garlic.
Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Turn pan up to medium high, add a bit more EVOO.
Roll up the pre-sliced beef and cut into thin strips, season well with S&P.
Brown slivered beef in the CI drippings.
Remove and set aside, reserve oil and drippings
In a non-stick pan, gently warm-
3/4c 1/2 & 1/2,
1 1/2 pips chocolate cut small,
1 tsp chipotle in adobo,
1 Tbsp cream cheese,
1 Tbsp reserved evoo and drippings.
Keep Stirring gently.
When all is melted and smooth, add a tong-full each of caramelized onions, cooked bacon, beef strips, cooked pasta, and 1 tsp capers.
Stir gently until everything is hot and bubbly. Plate, garnish with whatever (parsley, diced tomato, shaved chocolate...). ENJOY!
The chipotle and chocolate came through very nicely. They could both be tasted, then there's a bite of caramelized onion and bacon, and the beef strips wound up just like the pasta. We all enjoyed this fun and different TD dinner!
edit-fixed the orientation! Also, did not use the mozzarella~
I'd been thinking of doing a carbonara for dinner today, and the TD inspiration hit! Down at the corner market, I was considering their very nice selection of chocolates-
-when I remembered I had THIS at home courtesy of my Secret Santa gift exchange!
Most of the important ingredients-
Lindt Chili Dark Chocolate
chipotle in adobo
some carne asada sliced beef (3/4 pound?)
1 lb bacon
1/2 onion
pasta- linguine or fettuccine, pre-cooked, about 3/4 pound of dry pasta
1 qt Half-n-half, 4 oz cream cheese
capers
EVOO, garlic, salt, pepper
Prepped ingredients-
Dice Bacon, render out in a heavy cast iron pan or similar until crispy. Remove and set aside.
While the bacon is cooking, in a separate heavy cast iron or similar pan on medium heat, caramelize slivered onions in EVOO, with a bit of diced bacon, salt, pepper (sorry, geeme! ). When nicely brown, add 4 -6 cloves minced garlic, cook 3-4 minutes being careful not to burn the garlic.
Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Turn pan up to medium high, add a bit more EVOO.
Roll up the pre-sliced beef and cut into thin strips, season well with S&P.
Brown slivered beef in the CI drippings.
Remove and set aside, reserve oil and drippings
In a non-stick pan, gently warm-
3/4c 1/2 & 1/2,
1 1/2 pips chocolate cut small,
1 tsp chipotle in adobo,
1 Tbsp cream cheese,
1 Tbsp reserved evoo and drippings.
Keep Stirring gently.
When all is melted and smooth, add a tong-full each of caramelized onions, cooked bacon, beef strips, cooked pasta, and 1 tsp capers.
Stir gently until everything is hot and bubbly. Plate, garnish with whatever (parsley, diced tomato, shaved chocolate...). ENJOY!
The chipotle and chocolate came through very nicely. They could both be tasted, then there's a bite of caramelized onion and bacon, and the beef strips wound up just like the pasta. We all enjoyed this fun and different TD dinner!
edit-fixed the orientation! Also, did not use the mozzarella~
Well done! 
But the smell and taste of the cocoa, herb and chimayo breaded chicken was what really got my attention. I don't think I'll ever make fried chicken again with out a big scoop of cocoa powder. It sounds weird, but the browned chicken flavors and the smooth kind of creamy flavor of the cocoa were just spectacular together.
