A unique lake fish carbonara from Lake Garda.
This divinely delicious spaghetti with smoked trout carbonara is based on a lake fish carbonara recipe from a Michelin star restaurant on Lake Garda, Veneto. It is so much easier to make than it looks and I have to say my hubby and guests were seriously impressed!
Eating fresh water fish at the Italian lakes.
I used to spend summers at Lake Como. During these trips, we often ate at one particular typical trattoria close to the water. Although I can’t remember the name of the restaurant, I do remember how much I liked their spaghetti with smoked trout. Italians who live on or near any of the many beautiful Italian lakes or mountain rivers eat quite a lot of fresh water fish; trout, perch and lavaret being about the most popular.
Fresh water fish can be found on most restaurant menus around the lakes and are prepared and eaten as antipasti, primi (pasta and risotto dishes) and main courses. Away from the lakes, it’s not easy to find a restaurant menu with fresh water fish or a shop that sells it, except for smoked fish, most usually trout.
There are many delicious recipes for pasta with lake fish, often made with more than one type of fish; for example ragù di pesce di lago (lake fish ragu) which is made with fresh trout, perch and lavaret. Unfortunately, my hubby isn’t so keen on lake fish. Being a Sicilian, he prefers his fish to come from the sea!
Consequently, we don’t eat lake fish often. Having said that, he loved this recipe for spaghetti with smoked trout carbonara, so I think I can get away with serving lake fish or at least smoked trout more often!
Cold smoked trout.
The smoked trout I bought for this recipe came from Trentino and was cold smoked. This means that it has to be cooked before eating as opposed to hot smoked fish which can be eaten raw, Apparently, cold smoked salmon is an exception to this rule and can be eaten raw. But I don't know why.
The origins of this smoked trout carbonara.
This smoked trout carbonara recipe was inspired by two things. My memory of the spaghetti with smoked trout I used to eat at Lake Como and my desire to try out another fish carbonara after the success of the tuna carbonara I first posted some time ago.
I found this spaghetti with smoked trout carbonara on an Italian food blog site. However, the original recipe comes from Leandro Luppi, chef and owner of the Michelin star restaurant ‘Vecchia Malcesine’ in Malcesine, Lake Garda. This is a slightly simplified version of the original. But, I have to say it was not only divine but much easier to make than I thought it would be.
I made this recipe with smoked trout, the original uses fresh trout or tench. I think fresh salmon would work too. I’m not sure about smoked salmon but you could give it a try. Whichever fish you use, I just know you are going to love this and your guests will be as impressed as my hubby was!
If you make this recipe I’d love to hear how it turns out and if you liked it. Please leave a comment here on the blog or on The Pasta Project Facebook page. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Buon Appetito
Other carbonara recipes on The Pasta Project.
2. Traditional Roman carbonara
This recipe post was originally published in September 2017 but I have updated and republished it.
Save this recipe for later?
If you want to save this smoked trout carbonara recipe for later, you can print it, bookmark this page or save it to Pinterest.
Spaghetti with smoked trout carbonara
Ingredients
- 320 g spaghetti (11oz) I used De Cecco
- 150 g smoked trout (5oz) (if possible cold-smoked)
- 2 eggs beaten
- 150 g fresh or cooking cream (5oz)
- 1 lemon for zest
- 50 g butter (2oz)
- salt for pasta and to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. Add salt once it starts to boil.
- In a saucepan, reduce the cream slowly over a low heat to 50%, add the beaten eggs and cook them like you are making creamy scrambled eggs stirring all the time until the sauce starts to thicken. Emulsify with a hand blender.
- Remove the skin from the trout and cut it into small pieces and fry in butter until it starts to change colour.
- Cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the packet. Drain it and add it to the pan with the butter and trout. Mix together well with a sprinkling of grated lemon zest.
- Pour a little egg cream onto the bottom of each plate and pile the spaghetti and trout on top. Grate some lemon zest over each plate and a little black pepper. Serve immediately.
michele says
So good, and so quick. I made a half recipe. I made sure my egg was at room temp, then added a little cream to the beaten egg to temper it, then mixed it in. I didn't need a blender, just whisked it and it had a lovely texture. I 'cheated' as I was feeling lazy and wanted another good serving ( hurray for leftovers for those of us who are solo), so mixed the sauce with the pasta/trout rather than putting the sauce on the bottom. This worked very well. I had this with a nice flinty white wine but a light red would also go well I think. Next time I might try this with really good preserved tuna; I think it would work.
Thank you Jacqui.
Joseph says
Reads good , going to make with Gravlox , Salmon cured in sugar n Sea Salt will keep y'all posted
Brian says
The eggs curdled I had to throw the sauce out and come up with my own recipe. I should have known better.
Jacqui says
Hi Brian, I'm so sorry to hear your sauce didn't turn out well. It's difficult to know why except maybe the cream was too hot. However, your eggs shouldn't have 'curdled'. You may have ended up with creamy scrambled eggs which you could smooth out using an immersion blender.
Sushiel says
This is an outstanding recipe. I have made this smoked trout carbonara three time already in the last six weeks. I also smoked my own trout filets with cherry wood smoke.
Most spectacular. Thanks for the recipe.
Jacqui says
Hi Sushiel, thanks for your feedback. I'm so happy you like this smoked trout carbonara! I love it too. It's a special dish and one I often serve when I have guests as they are always impressed! Smoking your own trout must make it even better!
Tarun Solanki says
This looks delicious! My foodie hubby would love the change of pace. Thanks for sharing!
Michelle says
I just tried this recipe and it was really lovely.
Jacqui says
Thanks for your comment Michelle. I agree this smoked trout carbonara is a lovely dish. I'm glad you liked it!