Spaghetti with Smoked Trout Carbonara.
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 was seriously impressed!
(click to go straight to recipe)
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. 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 (cold smoked salmon is an exception to this rule and can be eaten raw)
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!
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 posted some time ago. I found this recipe on an Italian food blog site, although 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
(see the recipe on page 2. Just scroll down and click 2)
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.
I just tried this recipe and it was lovely.
Thanks for your comment Michelle. I agree this smoked trout carbonara is a lovely dish. I’m glad you liked it!
This Pandemic has forced me to try more recipes. This pasta and smoked trout recipe is very very delicious. I had to make adjustments because I lacked having any cream and a short ride to the store was not an option. I substituted a Hollandaise sauce mix I found in the pantry. I’ll make it again!!!
I love this recipe too Pamela! Good idea with the hollandaise. We def need to be creative these days with lockdowns etc!
I love pasta dishes so much! I really want to try this recipe. It looks so delicious!
Thank you Princess Quinn! I’m sure you’ll love this dish if you try it! It’s divine! Greetings from Verona! Jacqui
this looks so lovely <3 I cannot wait to try this out !!!!!! thank you for sharing the tips
Happy you like this recipe and want to try it Nina! I’m sure you’ll love it! It’s so good! All the best from Italy. Jacqui
Yum! I just had a bunch of salmon and wish I had known about this recipe! Looks great!
Grazie Lisa! Yes, this recipe would work really well with salmon! I hope you’ll give it a try next time you have some! Happy weekend from Italy! Jacqui
What a combination! This sounds amazing!
Thanks so much Ashley! Yes this is a divine combination. One to try if you like smoked trout! Greetings from Italy! Jacqui
Interesting, I would have never thought to mixed the two together in a meal.
Thanks for your comment LE! This is a very tasty combination. One to try if you like smoked trout and pasta! Greetings from Verona! Jacqui
Looks like this pasta gets a lot of flavor form the smoked fish, wonder if it gets the fishy taste or more of the smoky flavor. Anyway, that’s a great new idea to change up pasta dinner!
Thank you Helen! I’m happy you like this idea. I don’t think it tasted very fishy, but it depends on the type of smoked trout used. I used cold smoked. For a more subtle flavour you can also use fresh trout or salmon! Happy weekend cara! Jacqui
I’ve never tried carbonara with smoked trout. Looks so yummy and very inventive!
xoxo
Annie
Thank you Annie! Smoked trout goes so well in this recipe. I’m sure if you like smoked trout, you’ll love it in this contemporary version of carbonara! All the best from Italy! Jacqui
This recipe sounds easy to pull together and who doesn’t love a good carbonara?!
Thanks for your comment cara Stephanie! Yes this is a pretty easy recipe to make and yet looks and tastes divine. Carbonara is loved by many, this version is perfect for pescatarians and anyone looking for a different kind of carbonara! Hugs! Jacqui
looks yummy, too bad i don’t like smoked fish
Yes a pity you don’t like smoked fish but this can be made with fresh trout or salmon too. It’s just as delish! Greetings from Italy! Jacqui
I like the pasta! and Carbonara<3 This photos make me hungry 😀 Thanks for sharing this post!
Hi May, thank you for your comment! I’m happy you like this dish! It’s delicious. All the best! Jacqui
I am not normally a fan of seafood, but this looks like something that Shawn would absolutely enjoy! One of his favorites at the restaurant is the seafood pasta. Will have to try your recipe. Thanks for sharing!
That looks delicious! I’m not a big fish eater, but I think when mixed with the pasta it would be a really fresh and flavorful dish. I’m going to have to try it!
I am a fan of any kind of pasta project including your blog! Carbonara is such a lovely dish, but I have a bit of hard time getting the timing of the eggs to the pasta just right. I still get a little too much of a scramble (but it’s still delicious!)
I’m a huge fan of trout, especially cold smoked. I wish I could easily find it like that around here. This may just have to be the summer that I learn to do it myself! Carbonara is a favorite too, although I haven’t made it in a couple of years since I stopped eating pork. Smoked trout is an excellent substitute. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
It’s really an amazing recipe. Love to rate you 5 star. Thanks for this amazing post!
Ok let’s try this again. I wanted to let you know this sound delicious! The pics make me want to go out and start cooking this right now! I’ll have check other recipes here when I’m look for a pasta dish. Thanks for the time it takes to put this post together.
This looks delicious! My foodie hubby would love the change of pace. Thanks for sharing!
Ok…I have never paired trout with pasta before. What a great meal to serve to guests….add a glass fo wine and enjoy!! This is a great stress-free recipe.
I really wanna learn how to make the most amazing carbonara, although I’m not sure I’d like mine with trout!