Description
Carbonara celebrates the beauty of simplicity. Silky pasta tossed with pancetta, eggs, and pecorino creates a dish that’s rich, comforting, and irresistibly Italian.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Meat:
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1/2 pound pancetta or bacon, diced
Dairy and Eggs:
- 3/4 eggs
- 1 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese
Seasonings and Fats:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 1/2 garlic cloves, minced (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Cook spaghetti until perfectly tender yet firm, approximately 8-9 minutes. Carefully extract and set aside a cup of starchy pasta water.
- In a spacious skillet, render pancetta over medium flame until golden and crisp, releasing its rich, savory essence. If desired, introduce minced garlic for an aromatic layer.
- Whisk eggs thoroughly in a generous mixing bowl, folding in a generous portion of grated pecorino romano cheese until smoothly integrated.
- Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with the pancetta. Take the pan off the heat so the pasta stays hot but doesn’t overcook. Toss to combine.
- Pour egg and cheese mixture over hot pasta, stirring vigorously and continuously. The residual heat will transform eggs into a silky, luxurious sauce without scrambling.
- Modulate sauce consistency by incorporating reserved pasta water, creating a glossy, clingy texture. Generously grind fresh black pepper across the dish.
- Plate immediately, garnishing with additional pecorino romano, ensuring maximum temperature and optimal creaminess are maintained for serving.
Notes
- Achieving the perfect creamy texture relies on quickly mixing hot pasta with egg mixture off direct heat to prevent scrambling.
- Use room temperature eggs for smoother sauce and better integration with pasta.
- Authentic carbonara demands high-quality Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano for genuine flavor depth.
- For gluten-free version, substitute regular pasta with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta varieties while maintaining traditional preparation technique.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 712 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 43 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg