Carbonara is the symbol of Roman cuisine. Pasta, eggs, pecorino, guanciale, and pepper: a few ingredients that over the years have become a true gastronomic cult.
Anyone who comes to Rome cannot fail to try it. But is it possible to reinterpret this iconic dish using completely plant-based ingredients?
The answer is yes, but with one condition. It is not enough to remove the traditional ingredients. You have to recreate the balance of flavors that makes carbonara so beloved.
How a vegan carbonara is made
In our vegan restaurant in Rome, we wanted to tackle this challenge starting precisely from a respect for Roman tradition.
The preparation starts with vegetable ingredients selected and processed to maintain the character of the original dish.
In the pan, the vegetable guanciale made from peas and soybeans, which will obviously have to become crispy, just as in the traditional version. The pasta is then stir-fried with the vegetable carbocrema, which gives the dish its typical creamy texture made with soy oil and a hint of lemon. And to recall the color of traditional carbonara we use natural ingredients such as turmeric that give the sauce its golden hue.
The dish is then completed with cheese and a generous grinding of black pepper, elements that maintain the strong character of Roman carbonara.
Roman tradition, new perspective
Reinterpreting such an iconic dish does not mean copying it, but finding a new balance.
Vegan carbonara maintains the convivial spirit of Roman cuisine, but tells it through vegetable ingredients and different techniques. The result is a surprising dish, capable of intriguing both those who follow a vegan diet and those who simply love to discover new interpretations of the great classics.
Where to try it in Rome
Our vegan carbonara is one of the most beloved dishes on Buddy’s menu
If you are passing through the center of Rome and want to discover a different version of one of the most iconic dishes of Roman tradition, you can try it directly in our restaurant. Sometimes you just need a change of perspective to rediscover a classic.
