Italian
Spaghetti Carbonara
The classic Roman version — no cream, just eggs, cheese, and good pancetta.
Ingredients
- 7 oz spaghetti
- 4 oz pancetta or guanciale, diced
- 2 large eggs, plus 1 yolk
- ½ cup Pecorino Romano, finely grated
- ¼ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, finely grated
- 1 tsp black pepper, freshly cracked
- 1 tbsp sea salt (for pasta water)
Steps
- Boil the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the sea salt, then the spaghetti. Cook 1 minute less than the packet says — it will finish in the pan.
- Render the pancetta. While the pasta cooks, add the diced pancetta to a cold, wide pan. Turn the heat to medium. Let it render slowly until golden and crisp, about 6–7 minutes. No oil needed.
- Make the egg mixture. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, extra yolk, both cheeses, and most of the black pepper. It should look like a thick, pale paste. Set aside.
- Combine off heat. When the pasta is ready, reserve a mugful of pasta water. Drain the spaghetti and immediately add it to the pan with the pancetta (heat OFF). Toss for 30 seconds to coat in the rendered fat.
- Add the eggs. Pour the egg mixture over the pasta, tossing constantly. Add splashes of pasta water as you go until the sauce is silky and clings to every strand. The residual heat cooks the eggs — never put the pan back on the burner.
- Serve immediately. Plate, shower with the remaining cheese and more cracked pepper. Eat it standing up, in front of the stove, like they do in Rome.