Description
Creamy Italian classic spaghetti carbonara brings Roman culinary magic to your kitchen with silky eggs, crisp pancetta, and sharp pecorino cheese. Passionate cooks will love this simple yet luxurious pasta that delivers authentic flavors in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) spaghetti
Meat:
- 4 ounces (113 grams) pancetta or guanciale, diced
Eggs and Cheese:
- 2 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 cup (100 grams) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Optional Ingredients:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook spaghetti until perfectly tender, about 8-9 minutes. Carefully extract 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
- Heat a skillet over medium temperature and render pancetta until golden and crisp, developing rich, savory flavors. Transfer crispy bits to a separate plate.
- Whisk eggs, additional egg yolk, and finely grated Parmesan in a mixing bowl until the mixture transforms into a silky, uniform consistency.
- Return skillet to medium-low heat and introduce cooked spaghetti. Swiftly incorporate egg mixture, continuously tossing pasta to prevent egg from scrambling. Introduce reserved pasta water gradually to create a luxuriously smooth, glossy sauce.
- Generously dust the carbonara with freshly cracked black pepper and additional Parmesan cheese. Plate immediately while maintaining optimal temperature and creamy texture.
Notes
- Prevent egg scrambling by removing the skillet from heat and quickly tossing pasta with egg mixture to create a silky, smooth sauce.
- Use room temperature eggs to help them blend more evenly and reduce the risk of curdling when mixed with hot pasta.
- For a lighter version, swap pancetta with turkey bacon or mushrooms to reduce fat and create a vegetarian-friendly option.
- Reserve pasta water is crucial for achieving the perfect creamy consistency, so don’t drain it all away before mixing the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 515 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg