If you couldn’t tell from my Bacon Pad Thai recipe, we like to mix and match our food at the Teigen-Legend household. So, here we go again! Introducing my Spicy Miso Pasta, a new carb-y dish with an Asian twist. It still has the creaminess of the Parmesan and the saltiness of the bacon, but the miso gives it that umami element and, of course, I had to add some chili garlic sauce to kick up the spice. Chop up some scallions for color and you’re done! Make sure to have some bread nearby so you can soak up all the leftover sauce. That’s gonna be the best part.

P.S. We made a VEGAN version of Spicy Miso Pasta! Check it out at the bottom of the recipe for how to swap out the bacon, eggs, and cheese!

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE CLASSIC SPICY MISO PASTA:

  • 2tablespoons olive oil
  • 4ounces thick-cut or regular bacon, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3tablespoons chili garlic sauce (or sambal oelek and ½ teaspoon chili flakes), plus more to taste
  • 2tablespoons blond or light miso, plus more to taste
  • 2tablespoons hot water
  • 3eggs
  • ¾pound dry spaghetti (or linguine or fettuccine)
  • 2ounces finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (about 1 ¼ cups), plus more for garnish
  • 1teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½cup sliced scallion greens, plus more for garnish

Direction For The Classic Spicy Miso Pasta:

1-Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a low boil, cover, and keep hot on a low burner. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large skillet, then add the bacon and cook until crisped and the fat is rendered, 9–10 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.

2-In a bowl, whisk together the chili garlic sauce, miso, and 2 tablespoons of hot water from the boiling pot until smooth, then beat in the eggs. Cook the pasta according to box instructions until al dente and drain, reserving ½ cup of the pasta cooking water.

3-Add the pasta to the skillet with the bacon and toss to combine. Heat over medium heat until everything is nice and hot. Add the egg mixture, reduce the heat to low, and quickly toss until the eggs coat the pasta but aren’t scrambled. Add the cheese, pepper, and pasta water as desired until the sauce reaches your desired flavor and consistency. Taste, and add more chili garlic sauce if you like things spicy. Toss in the scallions. Divide among bowls, and garnish with more scallions and Parm.

FOR THE VEGAN SPICY MISO PASTA:

  • 4tablespoons vegan butter
  • 8ounces thinly-sliced shiitake mushrooms
  • 2garlic cloves, grated
  • 2tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3tablespoons chili garlic sauce (or sambal oelek and ½ teaspoon chili flakes), plus more to taste
  • 2tablespoons blond or light miso, plus more to taste
  • 2tablespoons hot water
  • ⅓cup coconut milk
  • ¾pound dry spaghetti (or linguine or fettuccine)
  • ⅔cup nutritional yeast
  • 1teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½cup sliced scallion greens, plus more for garnish

Direction For The Vegan Spicy Miso Pasta:

1-Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Sprinkle mushrooms on top and toss with 2 tablespoons vegan butter, soy sauce, and garlic. Roast, stirring once, until deep golden brown and crispy, 20–25 minutes.

2-Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Separately, in a bowl, whisk together the chili garlic sauce, miso, and 2 tablespoons of hot water from the boiling pot until smooth, then whisk in coconut milk and remaining 2 tablespoons vegan butter. Cook the pasta according to box instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup of the pasta cooking water.

3-Add the pasta and mushrooms to a large skillet. Heat over medium heat until everything is nice and hot.

4-Add the miso mixture, reduce the heat to low, and quickly toss until the sauce coats the pasta.

5-Add the nutritional yeast, pepper, and pasta water as desired until the sauce reaches your desired flavor and consistency. Taste, and add more chili garlic sauce if you like things spicy. Toss in the scallions. Divide among bowls, and garnish with more scallions and nutritional yeast.