pasta carbonara recipe
Pasta Carbonara is a classic Italian dish that combines spaghetti with a creamy sauce made from eggs, cheese, pancetta, and black pepper. It’s rich, comforting, and quick to prepare, making it a popular choice for weeknight dinners.
Equipment
- 1 large pot
- 1 frying pan
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 whisk
- 1 colander
- 1 tongs
Ingredients
- 400 g spaghetti
- 150 g pancetta or guanciale, diced Crispy bacon can be used as an alternative.
- 4 large eggs
- 100 g Pecorino Romano cheese, grated For a richer flavor, you can use a combination of Pecorino Romano and Parmesan cheese.
- to taste freshly ground black pepper
- to taste salt For pasta water.
- Fresh parsley Optional, for garnish.
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add the diced pancetta or guanciale and cook until crispy, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, grated Pecorino Romano cheese, and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper until well combined.
- Once the spaghetti is cooked, quickly add the hot spaghetti to the frying pan with the pancetta. Toss to combine and let the residual heat cool slightly to avoid scrambling the eggs.
- Pour the egg and cheese mixture over the spaghetti while continuously tossing the pasta to create a creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more black pepper or salt, as needed.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra cheese and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
Make sure to work quickly when mixing the eggs with the hot pasta to achieve a creamy sauce without scrambling the eggs.
For a richer flavor, you can use a combination of Pecorino Romano and Parmesan cheese.
If you can’t find pancetta or guanciale, crispy bacon can be used as an alternative, although it will change the flavor profile slightly.