Description
Creamy, classic spaghetti carbonara transports home cooks straight to Roman kitchens with its silky sauce and rich pancetta. Pasta perfection comes alive through simple ingredients and traditional techniques that connect you directly to Italian culinary heritage.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 400 grams (14 ounces) spaghetti
- 150 grams (5.3 ounces) pancetta or guanciale, chopped
- 2 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
Cheese and Seasonings:
- 1 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Salt, to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot, bringing it to a rolling boil. Submerge spaghetti and allow to simmer until perfectly tender, typically around 8 minutes. Carefully extract 1 cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining the pasta.
- Craft a luxurious sauce by vigorously whisking eggs, an additional egg yolk, and a generous portion of grated cheese in a mixing bowl. Liberally dust the mixture with freshly cracked black pepper, creating a rich, aromatic base.
- Transform pancetta in a skillet over medium flame, rendering its fat and crisping the edges to a golden-brown perfection. Once achieving a delectable crunch, remove the skillet from heat.
- Transfer the piping hot spaghetti directly into the skillet with crispy pancetta. Swiftly introduce the egg mixture, continuously tossing and stirring to create a silky, glossy coating that embraces each strand of pasta.
- Should the sauce appear too dense, gradually incorporate reserved pasta water, whisking until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency that clings lovingly to the noodles.
- Plate the carbonara immediately, crowning the dish with a final flourish of grated cheese and a sprinkle of finely chopped parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Use room temperature eggs to prevent scrambling and ensure a smooth, silky sauce that clings perfectly to the pasta.
- Grate Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano freshly for the most authentic and rich flavor profile.
- Work quickly when combining hot pasta with egg mixture to create a creamy sauce without turning the eggs into scrambled eggs.
- For a lighter version, replace pancetta with turkey bacon or omit meat entirely for a vegetarian option that still delivers incredible taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 200mg