Low fat tagliatelle carbonara is a lighter version of the traditional classic Italian pasta dish. Ready in just 30 minutes, this healthier recipe is the perfect weeknight low fat dinner.
This healthier low fat tagliatelle carbonara recipe is so creamy folks! You’d be forgiven for thinking that its made the traditional way with egg yolks to make up the sauce.
Nope! There’s no eggs used here to make up that sauce, nor is there any full fat cream either.
What I’ve used here instead is low fat creme fraiche, in moderation, and some grated Parmesan.
That’s what still gives it that delicious creamy cheesy indulgent sauce affect. But it’s now a lighter low fat carbonara with creme fraiche!
This low fat carbonara recipe is ideal if you’re trying to cut out fat or are on a low fat diet.
Or when you just crave a yummy low fat pasta recipe with less calories.
It was about seven years ago when I decided enough was enough. I needed to shift the extra two stones in weight I was carrying around.
I started doing that by changing the ingredients I cooked with. By cooking and eating more low fat recipes. For example replacing cream with fat free yogurt, creme fraiche or a light cream cheese.
Cooking this way, replacing high fat or calorific ingredients with lower fat / lower calorie substitutes is now the norm. It stuck and since then I haven’t put the weight back on.
Sometimes though, you really can’t beat a good old fashioned rich Italian Carbonara. And I do look forward to that as a treat when Lady Lynne and I go out for dinner together, to a real Italian restaurant! 🙂
Cooking at home though I prefer to cook healthy low fat meals. Like this low fat healthy tagliatelle recipe.
Why This Low Fat Tagliatelle Carbonara Is Healthier
- Instead of regular bacon or lardons as is traditional, I used turkey bacon which is lower in calories and fat.
- Eggs and full fat cream, which are high in fat and calories are not used.
- Low fat creme fraiche mixed with some grated parmesan makes up the alternative sauce.
- There are only 450 calories in this low calorie carbonara. A full fat version can be up to 650 calories per portion!
Why Not Try These Other Popular Low Fat Pasta Recipes?
- Pesto chicken tagliatelle is a fantastic 20-minute budget recipe just bursting with flavour. This easy pasta dinner makes for a comforting and filling weeknight family meal!
- Crème fraiche tagliatelle chicken is a delicious dinner recipe. A fusion of chicken and vegetables cooked in low fat crème fraiche instead of cream.
- This easy pasta arrabiata recipe is a simple quick healthy meal for four made in less than half an hour. When you’re short on time, but still want those classic Mediterranean flavours, this delicious dish will satisfy all those needs with minimal fuss and effort.
Coming Thursday on Neil’s Healthy Meals
Folks, next Tuesday I want to talk to you all about my amazing new Froothie Optimum VAC2 Air Vacuum Blender.
If you’re someone like me who makes A LOT of soups and smoothies then its something you seriously want to consider investing in.
I used to find it a right pain in the a** having to clean my old smoothie maker. Not with this one though, one drop of washing up liquid and some warm water, you switch it on and it becomes it’s own personal dishwasher! I’ll tell you more about it on Tuesday!
Then on Thursday, I think it’s time for the first cheesecake of the year, an Easy Lemon Cheesecake Squares recipe. It’s a bit of a twist on a previous popular recipe that I’ve posted, but made simpler and healthier. I think you’ll love it!
So, have an amazing weekend Folks and I hope you can join me on Tuesday.
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Enjoy this healthy carbonara as one of your low fat dinner options at only 450 calories per portion!
Low Fat Tagliatelle Carbonara Recipe
For this healthy carbonara recipe I used shop bought tagliatelle pasta to save time. But, when I have more time I do like to make my own tagliatelle pasta.
To make your own Tagliatelle, follow the steps in my Tagliatelle With Home-made Pesto recipe.
I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂
Low Fat Tagliatelle Carbonara
Ingredients
- 400 g dried tagliatelle
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 4 rashers of turkey bacon chopped
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 200 ml low fat crème fraiche
- 60 g parmesan cheese grated
- 2 tbsp flatleaf parsley chopped
- Freshly grated salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook tagliatelle according to package directions*.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and sauté the onion, bacon and garlic together until cooked for about 3 – 4 minutes.
- Stir in the crème fraiche and when it starts to bubble turn down to simmer stirring frequently for about 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, stir in the parmesan, parsley and season to taste.
- Drain the pasta and combine it with the sauce. Serve.
Agness of Run Agness Run
I love pasta and this recipe is a must try for me, Neil. A perfect combination of ingredients for a tasty dish.
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
There’s plenty of running fuel in this healthy dinner too Agness. If it’s a gym day for me early the next morning, I’ll try and carb up the night before with something tasty like this to give me plenty of energy!
David @ Spiced
As I mentioned on Tuesday, I’ve been excited to see how you made this classic recipe a bit more low-fat. Creme fraiche, eh? Interesting! Creme fraiche is a bit harder to find in the stores here in the States, but it can be done. And now I want to try it out! A good creamy carbonara is seriously one of my biggest weaknesses, and the thought of making a lower-fat version is totally intriguing. Thanks so much for sharing this one, Neil! It’s going on the menu soon for sure! Hope you and Lynne had a wonderful Valentine’s Day yesterday, and cheers to a great weekend ahead! 🙂
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thanks David. I get excited to see ANY of your recipes. They’re always so fresh and inspiring so I’m really happy that you were excited to see mine! I hope you get the chance to pick up some creme fraiche, as this recipe is definitely worth the effort of checking out! I hope that you and Laura have a great weekend yourselves too! 😀
Ashika | Gardening Foodie
What an amazing meal this is Neil. So full of flavour and deliciousness minus the high calories which usually come with a pasta dish. I love how you substituted the ingredients to create a healthier low fat version. Thank you for this delicious recipe…this I have got to try 🙂
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thanks Ashika, I hope you get a chance to try it. It’s totally worth it! 🙂
Christina
Oh, snap! A lighter creamy pasta?!?! SIGN ME UP!! I love pasta with cream sauces but rarely make them bc I’m trying to be healthier and what not. But I’m SO down to try a lighter version when I have the hankering for creamy pasta!!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thanks Christina, I promise that you’ll still find this pasta dish just as tasty as the full fat original version made with cream! I hope you enjoy it when you get a chance to make it! 🙂
GiGi Eats
I have never had any type of carbonara before. When I was a spaghetti eater, I ate it PLAIN. Okay, lie – I ate it with butttteerrrrrrr and PARM cheese! I would spell that cheese’s name out but I ALWAYS spell it wrong. I was a very simple eater, much like I am now. But honestly, I sort of wish I could go back in time and try a bunch of these recipes/dishes because there are SO MANY pasta dishes like this one, that I’d love to put in my mouth!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
My mum only used to ever make spaghetti bolognese when I was younger, I had no idea that there were so many other types of pasta dishes until I started going to restaurants and seeing what was on offer GiGi! But you know, sometimes simple is best and spaghetti with butter and Parmesan cheese is pretty delicious isn’t it? 🙂
Jeff
I really like your thinking on this one, Neil. I make my own crème fraiche, but I’ve never made a low-fat version. You’ve spurred me on to find out how. Thanks!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
That’s brilliant that you make your own crème fraiche Jeff. That’s not something I’ve ever made! I’ll need to look that up and see what it entails. 🙂
Ben|Havocinthekitchen
I think I’ve never made the authentic carbonara, with cream and eggs (Although I don’t mind consuming some extra fats…this just never happened). Indeed, I rarely incorporate cream in pasta – I prefer some cream cheese. I think crème fraiche has the similar idea here. Love this lighter version, Neil!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thanks Ben, I thought you would like this lower fat version! Hope you are feeling warmer over there in Nova Scotia! 🙂
Shashi at SavorySpin
Neil, my daughter LOVES a rich Italian Carbonara – but, me, I much prefer a lighter one – especially one that has BACON!!! This looks fantastic – and kudos on keeping the weight off – you and Lady Lynne are such an inspiration – love y’alls practical and steadfast approach to food and travel and live in general!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thanks Shashi, that’s so nice of you to say that. Not just your compliments about my recipe but also about Lady Lynne and I being an inspiration. That means a lot. Thank you. 😀