spaghetti carbonara

Recipe by
Vickie Parks
Renton, WA

Originating in Rome, this simple yet delicious pasta recipe is surprisingly satisfying. The pancetta adds a meaty tone to the dish (but you can use bacon instead of pancetta, if you want more of a smoky flavor to the dish). Serve Spaghetti Carbonara with some warmed Italian bread, Caesar's Salad, and plenty of fine Italian wine, and you'll have a meal that's fit for royalty!

yield 6 to 8
prep time 10 Min
cook time 15 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For spaghetti carbonara

  • 16-oz pkg
    dry spaghetti
  • 3 lg
    eggs
  • 1/2 cup
    pecorino-romano cheese or parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated (or you can use grated parmesan cheese) - divided
  • 1 tsp
    salt, or to taste
  • 1 tsp
    black pepper - plus more at serving
  • 4 slice
    pancetta (or bacon) - chopped into small pieces
  • 2 clove
    garlic, crushed or minced
  • cream, as needed for consistency

How To Make spaghetti carbonara

  • 1
    Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain cooked spaghetti.
  • 2
    In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs until fluffy. Stir in 1/3 cup cheese, salt and pepper. Set bowl aside.
  • 3
    Rub a few pieces of raw pancetta (or bacon) on bottom of skillet, leaving a bit of fat residue on bottom of pan. Heat the skillet over medium heat, and add garlic to skillet and sauté it in the fat for 1 minute. Stir in the pancetta (or bacon), and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes or until crisp. Add cooked spaghetti to the skillet and toss until well combined. NOTE: If preferred, you can add other ingredients at things point - such as chopped mushrooms, chopped tomato, chopped onion or chopped flat-leaf parsley. Cook until heated through. These aren't traditional to the original recipe, but some people prefer to add these ingredients, to enhance the flavor of the dish.
  • 4
    Pour egg mixture into the skillet, and toss constantly, working quickly in this step (or you might end up with scrambled eggs). If needed, add 1 to 2 Tbsp cream and continue tossing until the sauce is creamy and sticks fairly well to the spaghetti. (The Carbonara Sauce should be creamy and not too gooey nor runny.)
  • 5
    To serve, distribute the Spaghetti Carbonara among 6 to 8 individual dinner plates. Garnish each serving with fresh ground black pepper and remaining cheese, if desired. Serve immediately.

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