Description
Classic spaghetti carbonara brings Roman culinary magic to home kitchens with silky eggs, crispy pancetta, and pecorino cheese. Creamy pasta perfection emerges when quality ingredients blend seamlessly, inviting you to savor authentic Italian comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 400 grams (14 ounces) spaghetti
- 200 grams (7 ounces) beef or turkey bacon, diced
- 3 large eggs
Cheese and Dairy:
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional for extra creaminess)
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a generously salted water pot to a rolling boil and cook spaghetti until perfectly tender, approximately 8-9 minutes. Carefully extract and preserve one cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining the pasta.
- Create a silky sauce base by whisking eggs, freshly grated Parmesan, and a generous crackle of black pepper in a mixing bowl until smoothly combined.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature. Crisp the diced bacon or pancetta until golden and crackling, releasing its rich, smoky essence.
- Introduce finely minced garlic to the rendered bacon fat, allowing it to become fragrant and translucent without browning, about 30-45 seconds.
- Reduce cooking heat to low and introduce the drained pasta directly into the skillet, gently tossing to coat each strand with the savory bacon and garlic infusion.
- Immediately remove skillet from heat source and swiftly pour the egg and cheese mixture over the hot pasta, continuously and vigorously tossing to emulsify and create a luxuriously creamy coating.
- If the sauce appears too dense, gradually incorporate reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until achieving a silky, smooth consistency.
- Calibrate flavors with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Scatter freshly chopped parsley across the surface for a vibrant finish.
- Serve the carbonara piping hot, ensuring the delicate sauce remains glossy and inviting.
Notes
- Prevent scrambling eggs by removing the skillet from heat before adding the egg mixture, ensuring a silky smooth sauce that coats the pasta evenly.
- Swap traditional pork bacon with turkey bacon or pancetta for a leaner protein option that still delivers incredible flavor and crispy texture.
- Reserve pasta water is crucial for achieving the perfect sauce consistency, helping to emulsify the eggs and cheese into a creamy, luxurious coating.
- Serve immediately after mixing to enjoy the optimal temperature and texture, as the sauce can quickly become dry or clump if left sitting too long.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 510 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg