Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti tossed in a silky sauce of guanciale, egg yolks, pecorino, and cracked black pepper — no cream, ever.
Cuisines
Italian
Best for
Lunch
Dinner
Build a full meal around Spaghetti Carbonara
Get a matched combo of sides and accents
Recipe
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 20 min
Total: 30 min
2-3 servings
Ingredients
|
200 grams | Spaghetti |
|
100 grams | Guanciale , or pancetta |
|
2 | Egg , large |
|
50 grams | Pecorino Romano cheese |
|
50 grams | Parmesan Cheese , grated (optional) |
|
— | Salt , to taste |
|
— | Black Pepper , freshly ground |
Instructions
- 1 Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente.
- 2 While the pasta is cooking, cut the guanciale or pancetta into small cubes.
- 3 In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the guanciale or pancetta until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- 4 In a bowl, beat the eggs and mix in the grated Pecorino Romano and Parmesan cheese. Season with a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper.
- 5 Once the pasta is cooked, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water and then drain the spaghetti.
- 6 Add the hot spaghetti to the skillet with the guanciale or pancetta and toss to coat in the rendered fat.
- 7 Remove the skillet from the heat and quickly add the egg and cheese mixture, tossing continuously to create a creamy sauce. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to reach the desired consistency.
- 8 Serve immediately with additional grated cheese and black pepper on top.
Tips
For best results, use freshly grated cheese and freshly cracked black pepper.