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Carbonara

Carbonara

A classic Italian carbonara recipe, which is ready in minutes.

This recipe traditionally uses guanciale, with pancetta being a close substitute. With both of these ingredients being difficult to get hold of, bacon is instead used in this recipe. If you can find them, use them!

Another option is to blanch the bacon for a few minutes before frying. This helps remove some of the smoky flavour, which brings the taste closer to pancetta.

Eggs
Italian
Mains
Pasta
4 servings

Ingredients

  • 400 g 

    dried spaghetti

     or fettuccine
  • 200 g 

    streaky bacon

  • 1 tbsp 

    extra virgin olive oil

  • 2 

    eggs

  • 2 

    egg yolks

  • 1 tsp 

    freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/3 cup 

    grated parmigiano reggiano

     plus more for serving
  • 2 tsp 

    kosher salt

     plus more for salting pasta water

Instructions

1

Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add 400 g dried spaghetti and cook until al dente.

2

While the water is coming to the boil, cut 200 g streaky bacon into small pieces. The exact size or shape isn't important. Cook in a pan over medium heat until the fat has started the render out and the meat is brown and crispy.

3

In a large heatproof bowl, whisk together 2 eggs, 2 egg yolks,
1/3 cup grated parmigiano reggiano, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper and 2 tsp kosher salt.

4

Remove the pasta from the pot using tongs and add to the frypan with pork. Don't pour out the leftover pasta water yet! Add the pasta to the frypan with the pork and take off the heat. Add 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and stir through the pasta mixture to incorporate all of the ingredients.

5

Add the pasta to the egg mixture, as well as 1/2 cup pasta water. Stir to combine, then set the bowl on top of the pot of pasta water. Set the heat to medium so that the water starts to simmer and the pasta finishes cooking from underneath using a double boiler approach. Make sure the base of the bowl isn't touching the water. Mix the pasta continuously until the liquid thickens into a creamy consistency.

6

Serve immediately, topping with more parmigiano reggiano and black pepper as desired.

Notes

Cook sliced mushrooms with the bacon to add some vegetables to your pasta.