Spaghetti alla carbonara is a timeless Italian dish that has continued to captivate taste buds around the world. Its creamy, rich sauce, made from eggs, Pecorino Romano cheese, and pancetta, envelops perfectly cooked spaghetti in a harmonious embrace of flavors. As you delve into this culinary exploration, we present a comprehensive guide to crafting the ultimate spaghetti alla carbonara. This adventure will take you through selecting the finest ingredients and mastering the delicate balance of flavors to achieve a dish that not only satisfies your palate but also transports you to the bustling streets of Rome.
Here are our top 13 tried and tested recipes!
SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA: THE TRADITIONAL ITALIAN RECIPE
This dish was created in the Lazio region (the area around Rome) in the middle of the 20th century, after World War Two. We don't use cream, milk, garlic, onions or other strange ingredients; we use only guanciale, eggs, pecorino cheese, and lots of black pepper (carbonaro is the Italian for coal miner). This isn't the Italian-American version, it's the real, creamy carbonara and it comes right from Italy, where I live. Buon appetito.
Provided by ivan zeta
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add guanciale (see Cook's Note). Cook, turning occasionally, until evenly browned and crispy, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain on paper towels.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain and return to the pot. Let cool, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
- Whisk eggs, half of the Pecorino Romano cheese, and some black pepper in a bowl until smooth and creamy. Pour egg mixture over pasta, stirring quickly, until creamy and slightly cooled. Stir in guanciale. Top with remaining Pecorino Romano cheese and more black pepper.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 763.7 calories, Carbohydrate 85.1 g, Cholesterol 199.8 mg, Fat 28.4 g, Fiber 3.6 g, Protein 39 g, SaturatedFat 10.1 g, Sodium 1181.6 mg, Sugar 3.4 g
PASTA CARBONARA
Pasta carbonara is an indulgent yet surprisingly simple recipe. Made with pancetta (or bacon) and plenty of Parmesan, this recipe takes only 30 minutes to prepare from start to finish!
Provided by Elise Bauer
Categories Quick and Easy Restaurant Favorite Bacon Carbonara Egg Italian Pancetta Parmesan Pasta Spaghetti
Time 30m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat the pasta water: Put a large pot of salted water on to boil (1 tablespoon salt for every 2 quarts of water.)
- Beat the eggs and half of the cheese: In a small bowl, beat the eggs and mix in about half of the cheese.
- Cook the pasta: Once the water has reached a rolling boil, add the dry pasta, and cook, uncovered, at a rolling boil.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 447 kcal, Carbohydrate 25 g, Cholesterol 166 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 16 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, Sodium 413 mg, Sugar 1 g, Fat 31 g, ServingSize Serves 4-6, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA
Steps:
- In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the pancetta and cook until it is browned and the fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and keep warm.
- In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, cheese, and pepper until uniform. Set aside.
- Fill a large pot with water and add enough salt so the water tastes like seawater. Bring the water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid.
- Drain the pasta, transfer to the bowl with the egg mixture and add the pancetta, along with all the fat from the pan. Toss the pasta with the egg-cheese mixture and the pancetta until the eggs are cooked and the pasta is coated and creamy, about 1 minute. Serve immediately.
SPAGHETTI CARBONARA
This dish is a deli egg-bacon-and-cheese-on-a-roll that has been pasta-fied, fancified, fetishized and turned into an Italian tradition that, like many inviolate Italian traditions, is actually far less old than the Mayflower. Because America may have contributed to its creation, carbonara is Exhibit A in the back-and-forth between Italy and the United States when it comes to food. Remember: the main goal is creaminess.
Provided by Ian Fisher
Categories dinner, easy, quick, pastas, main course
Time 25m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place a large pot of lightly salted water (no more than 1 tablespoon salt) over high heat, and bring to a boil. Fill a large bowl with hot water for serving, and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolks and pecorino and Parmesan. Season with a pinch of salt and generous black pepper.
- Set the water to boil. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the pork, and sauté until the fat just renders, on the edge of crispness but not hard. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Add pasta to the water and boil until a bit firmer than al dente. Just before pasta is ready, reheat guanciale in skillet, if needed. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain pasta and add to the skillet over low heat. Stir for a minute or so.
- Empty serving bowl of hot water. Dry it and add hot pasta mixture. Stir in cheese mixture, adding some reserved pasta water if needed for creaminess. Serve immediately, dressing it with a bit of additional grated pecorino and pepper.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 513, UnsaturatedFat 11 grams, Carbohydrate 64 grams, Fat 19 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 20 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 339 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
PASTA CARBONARA
If you can boil water, then making pasta carbonara is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. A quick dinner made from six everyday kitchen staples, carbonara is a comfort food standby in Italian kitchens for good reason. As the spaghetti cooks, you'll crisp up some pancetta in a skillet, whisk together eggs and cream on the side, and then toss it all together with and grated Parmesan to create a silky, creamy pasta that is perfect for any day of the week.
Provided by Riley Wofford
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large skillet, heat oil and pancetta over medium; cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp and browned around edges, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, yolks, and cream; season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water 1 minute less than package instructions. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups pasta water. Add 1 cup pasta water to skillet; bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook, stirring, until reduced slightly, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Slowly add egg mixture to pasta, stirring, until sauce thickens and clings to pasta. Stir in cheese and pancetta; season generously with pepper and serve immediately with more cheese.
ULTIMATE SPAGHETTI CARBONARA RECIPE
Discover how to make superb spaghetti carbonara. This cheesy pasta dish is an Italian favourite and with the right technique, you can make it perfect every time
Provided by Angela Nilsen
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Put a large saucepan of water on to boil.
- Finely chop the 100g pancetta, having first removed any rind. Finely grate 50g pecorino cheese and 50g parmesan and mix them together.
- Beat the 3 large eggs in a medium bowl and season with a little freshly grated black pepper. Set everything aside.
- Add 1 tsp salt to the boiling water, add 350g spaghetti and when the water comes back to the boil, cook at a constant simmer, covered, for 10 minutes or until al dente (just cooked).
- Squash 2 peeled plump garlic cloves with the blade of a knife, just to bruise it.
- While the spaghetti is cooking, fry the pancetta with the garlic. Drop 50g unsalted butter into a large frying pan or wok and, as soon as the butter has melted, tip in the pancetta and garlic.
- Leave to cook on a medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the pancetta is golden and crisp. The garlic has now imparted its flavour, so take it out with a slotted spoon and discard.
- Keep the heat under the pancetta on low. When the pasta is ready, lift it from the water with a pasta fork or tongs and put it in the frying pan with the pancetta. Don't worry if a little water drops in the pan as well (you want this to happen) and don't throw the pasta water away yet.
- Mix most of the cheese in with the eggs, keeping a small handful back for sprinkling over later.
- Take the pan of spaghetti and pancetta off the heat. Now quickly pour in the eggs and cheese. Using the tongs or a long fork, lift up the spaghetti so it mixes easily with the egg mixture, which thickens but doesn't scramble, and everything is coated.
- Add extra pasta cooking water to keep it saucy (several tablespoons should do it). You don't want it wet, just moist. Season with a little salt, if needed.
- Use a long-pronged fork to twist the pasta on to the serving plate or bowl. Serve immediately with a little sprinkling of the remaining cheese and a grating of black pepper. If the dish does get a little dry before serving, splash in some more hot pasta water and the glossy sauciness will be revived.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 655 calories, Fat 31 grams fat, SaturatedFat 16 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 66 grams carbohydrates, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 32 grams protein, Sodium 2.02 milligram of sodium
SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA
For a quick dinner, whip up Tyler Florence's authentic Spaghetti alla Carbonara recipe, a rich tangle of pasta, pancetta and egg, from Food Network.
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories main-dish
Time 25m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Prepare the sauce while the pasta is cooking to ensure that the spaghetti will be hot and ready when the sauce is finished; it is very important that the pasta is hot when adding the egg mixture, so that the heat of the pasta cooks the raw eggs in the sauce.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender yet firm (as they say in Italian "al dente.") Drain the pasta well, reserving 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water to use in the sauce if you wish.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a deep skillet over medium flame. Add the pancetta and saute for about 3 minutes, until the bacon is crisp and the fat is rendered. Toss the garlic into the fat and saute for less than 1 minute to soften.
- Add the hot, drained spaghetti to the pan and toss for 2 minutes to coat the strands in the bacon fat. Beat the eggs and Parmesan together in a mixing bowl, stirring well to prevent lumps. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the egg/cheese mixture into the pasta, whisking quickly until the eggs thicken, but do not scramble (this is done off the heat to ensure this does not happen.) Thin out the sauce with a bit of the reserved pasta water, until it reaches desired consistency. Season the carbonara with several turns of freshly ground black pepper and taste for salt. Mound the spaghetti carbonara into warm serving bowls and garnish with chopped parsley. Pass more cheese around the table.
TRADITIONAL SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA
Spaghetti is the time-honored partner for carbonara sauce, a Roman favorite made from pancetta, garlic, Parmesan and Romano cheese, lots of freshly ground black pepper, and eggs-which are tossed, uncooked, into the hot pasta just before serving.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Pork Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Add pasta; cook until al dente. Drain. While pasta cooks, cook pancetta in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 6 to 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to a bowl.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add oil to skillet; heat until hot but not smoking. Add garlic; cook until golden, about 3 minutes. Lightly beat eggs in a large serving bowl; set aside. Add pasta to skillet; toss. Transfer to eggs. Add cheeses and pancetta; toss. Season with pepper.
SPAGHETTI A LA CARBONARA
This recipe comes from *Joy of Cooking* where it is called "Spaghetti with Egg and Cheese." Written for American audiences at a time when pancetta was virtually unavailable, it calls for bacon instead. Actually both are delicious -- just different -- so I'd try it with each and make up your own mind. Not the healthiest thing to eat, but some good as an occasional treat!
Provided by lecole54
Categories Spaghetti
Time 40m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water for 10 minutes.
- In the meantime cook the bacon in the olive oil in a small skillet until the bacon is crisp. Add the wine and reduce until the wine has evaporated.
- In a bowl, beat together the eggs and the cheese.
- Drain the spaghetti and return it to the hot saucepan. Add the egg and cheese mixture and the hot bacon fat and bits, stirring it in quickly. The heat of the spaghetti will cook the egg mixture.
- Correct the seasoning and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 826.8, Fat 35, SaturatedFat 12.2, Cholesterol 208.7, Sodium 696.9, Carbohydrate 87.4, Fiber 3.6, Sugar 2.8, Protein 32.8
SPAGHETTI A LA CARBONARA
Make and share this Spaghetti a La Carbonara recipe from Food.com.
Provided by conniecooks
Categories Spaghetti
Time 25m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cook Spaghetti to al Dente Stage in liberally salted water.
- Brown pancette in olive oil in skillet. add garlic for 1-2 minutes, add wine and scrape up all the brown bits (deglaze).
- In separate bowl beat eggs & add ladle of Pasta water to temper.
- Drain Pasta.
- Add to skillet with oil & pancetta.
- Pour egg mixture over pasta.
- Toss rapidly to coat without cooking eggs.
- Remove pan from heat add a big handful of cheese lots of Pepper and salt to taste.
- Continue to toss and turn pasta until it absorbs egg mixture and thickens (1 - 2 Min).
- Garnish with Romano and Parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 428, Fat 13.6, SaturatedFat 3.2, Cholesterol 68.9, Sodium 94.2, Carbohydrate 58.7, Fiber 2.6, Sugar 2.4, Protein 13.3
SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA
Steps:
- Cut guanciale or pancetta into 1/3-inch dice, then cook in a deep 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until fat begins to render, 1 to 2 minutes. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden, about 10 minutes. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Cook spaghetti in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
- While pasta is cooking, whisk together eggs, Parmigiano-Reggiano , Pecorino Romano (1/3 cup), 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl.
- Drain spaghetti in a colander and add to onion mixture, then toss with tongs over moderate heat until coated. Remove from heat and add egg mixture, tossing to combine. Serve immediately.
SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA
"This is a swift and yummy recipe that I received from a dear friend," Roni Goodell says about her fast-to-fix brunch dish. "My family asks for it often," adds the Spanish Fork, Utah cook.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 3-4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp; drain on paper towels. Add butter to drippings; heat until melted., Drain spaghetti; toss with eggs and cheese. Add to skillet; cook and stir over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until eggs are set. Sprinkle with bacon.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 515 calories, Fat 31g fat (16g saturated fat), Cholesterol 172mg cholesterol, Sodium 721mg sodium, Carbohydrate 38g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 21g protein.
SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA
Provided by Rick Marin
Categories dinner, easy, quick, weekday, pastas, main course
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, about 7 to 9 minutes.
- Just before the pasta is cooked, fry the pancetta in a large skillet until it is crisp and golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain the pasta well, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water. Carefully pour it into the skillet, then add the pasta, and heat, shaking the pan, for 1 minute. Add the grated cheese, the egg whites and pepper, and toss until they are fully incorporated.
- Divide the pasta among 4 heated serving bowls, and make a nest in the center of each. Gently drop an egg yolk into each nest, season with additional black pepper, and grate additional cheese on top. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 845, UnsaturatedFat 20 grams, Carbohydrate 87 grams, Fat 39 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 35 grams, SaturatedFat 15 grams, Sodium 635 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the carbonara will be. Opt for fresh eggs, guanciale or pancetta, and pecorino Romano cheese.
- Cook the pasta al dente: This means that the pasta should be cooked until it is tender but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked pasta will make the carbonara mushy.
- Use the right amount of pasta water: The pasta water helps to create a creamy sauce. Don't add too much, or the sauce will be too thin. A good rule of thumb is to use about 1/2 cup of pasta water for every pound of pasta.
- Don't add the eggs to the hot pasta: The heat of the pasta will cook the eggs too quickly and make them scrambled. Instead, whisk the eggs in a bowl with some of the pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper. Then, slowly add the pasta to the egg mixture, stirring constantly.
- Serve the carbonara immediately: Carbonara is best enjoyed fresh. If you need to make it ahead of time, you can cook the pasta and sauce separately and then combine them just before serving.
Conclusion:
Spaghetti alla carbonara is a classic Italian dish that is simple to make and always a crowd-pleaser. With just a few high-quality ingredients, you can create a delicious and satisfying meal that is perfect for any occasion. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy dinner, give carbonara a try. You won't be disappointed!
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