Description
Silky strands of spaghetti intertwine with crispy pancetta in classic Roman Carbonara, delivering a creamy symphony of pecorino cheese and black pepper. Pasta perfection awaits you, promising a delightful culinary journey through Italy’s most beloved comfort dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 225 grams (8 ounces) dried linguini or spaghetti
Proteins:
- 150 grams (5.3 ounces) smoked pancetta
- 2 egg yolks
Dairy and Seasonings:
- 4 tablespoons Pecorino Romano, finely grated
- 4 tablespoons double cream
- Freshly milled black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat serving dishes to maintain the pasta’s temperature during plating.
- Fill a large pot with water, add generous salt, and bring to a rolling boil at high heat.
- Immerse pasta and cook until perfectly tender with a slight bite, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Simultaneously, render pancetta in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and crisp, releasing its rich, savory essence.
- Whisk eggs, additional yolks, cream, and freshly cracked black pepper in a mixing vessel until smoothly integrated.
- Carefully drain pasta, preserving a small quantity of starchy cooking liquid for potential sauce adjustment.
- Transfer pasta back to the warm pot, introducing crispy pancetta and its rendered fat.
- Gently stream egg mixture over pasta, continuously stirring with rapid, circular motions to create a silky, emulsified sauce that clings delicately to each strand.
- If sauce appears too thick, incorporate reserved cooking liquid to achieve desired creamy consistency.
- Plate immediately, garnishing with freshly grated Pecorino Romano for an additional layer of sharp, salty complexity.
Notes
- Warm your serving bowls beforehand to keep the carbonara creamy and hot when serving.
- Choose high-quality pancetta or guanciale for authentic Italian flavor and crispy texture.
- Reserve some pasta water to help create a silky, smooth sauce if the mixture seems too thick.
- Temper eggs carefully by adding hot pasta water slowly to prevent scrambling and ensure a luxurious, glossy sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 727 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 48 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg