Indulge in the timeless flavors of Spaghetti Carbonara, a classic Italian pasta dish that embodies simplicity and decadence. Originating from Rome, this dish has captured hearts worldwide with its rich, creamy sauce made from eggs, cheese, and pancetta or guanciale. Spaghetti Carbonara is a testament to the culinary magic that can be achieved with a handful of high-quality ingredients.
This article presents two variations of the beloved Spaghetti Carbonara: the classic recipe and a vegetarian-friendly version. Both recipes offer step-by-step instructions, ensuring that pasta enthusiasts of all levels can recreate this iconic dish in their own kitchens.
The classic Spaghetti Carbonara recipe stays true to tradition, using guanciale, a cured pork cheek, to render that smoky, savory flavor that pairs perfectly with the creamy sauce. The vegetarian version, on the other hand, replaces the pork with a combination of mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes, creating a flavorful and satisfying meatless alternative.
To elevate your Spaghetti Carbonara experience, the article also includes a recipe for homemade tagliatelle pasta. Made from scratch using simple ingredients like flour and eggs, this fresh pasta adds an extra layer of authenticity and flavor to the dish.
Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner looking to explore the world of Italian cuisine, this article provides all the guidance you need to create a memorable Spaghetti Carbonara that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more.
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.
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 CARBONARA
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 25m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions while you start the sauce.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil and pancetta. Cook until the pancetta gets brown and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes.
- In a bowl, whisk the eggs with the cheese and some salt and pepper.
- When the spaghetti is done, drain it, reserving some of the cooking water, and add the pasta to the hot pancetta skillet. Toss to coat the pasta with the oil. Remove the skillet from the heat and pour over the egg mixture, tossing quickly so the eggs don't scramble. Add some of the hot cooking water to thin it out and form a sauce. Toss in the parsley. Serve immediately with some extra cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.
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
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 CARBONARA FOR TWO
When the temperature drops in Shawnee, Kansas, Melanie Hudson warms up with a comforting Italian classic. "As a zippy side or light entree, you simply can't beat it for simplicity," she notes. Serve with a tossed green salad.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 20m
Yield 2 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels; discard drippings. , In the same skillet, melt butter; stir in the cream, Parmesan cheese, pepper flakes, salt, pepper and bacon. Drain spaghetti; add to cream mixture and toss. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts :
SPAGHETTI CARBONARA
A spaghetti carbonara sauce is typically made with bacon, eggs, and cheese. We've added a little half-and-half for a silky texture to this delicious pasta dish.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Pork Recipes
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Set a large pot of water to boil (for pasta). In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 12 minutes; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
- Salt boiling water generously; add pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together eggs, Parmesan, and half-and-half. Set aside.
- Drain pasta, leaving some water clinging to it. Working quickly, add hot pasta to egg mixture. Add bacon; season with salt and pepper, and toss all to combine (heat from pasta will cook eggs). Serve immediately, sprinkled with additional Parmesan cheese.
Tips
- Use high-quality ingredients: The best carbonara is made with fresh eggs, guanciale or pancetta, Pecorino Romano cheese, and freshly ground black pepper. Don't skimp on the quality of your ingredients, as they will make a big difference in the final dish.
- Cook the pasta al dente: Al dente means "to the tooth" in Italian, and it refers to the ideal cooking state for pasta. The pasta should be cooked through but still have a slight bite to it. Overcooked pasta will be mushy and won't hold the sauce as well.
- Use the right amount of sauce: The sauce for carbonara should be thick and creamy, but not too heavy. You should be able to coat the pasta with the sauce without drowning it.
- Add the cheese and eggs off the heat: This will prevent the eggs from scrambling and the cheese from becoming grainy.
- Season to taste: Add salt and pepper to taste, and adjust the amount of cheese and eggs as needed.
Conclusion
Spaghetti carbonara is a classic Italian dish that is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. With its simple ingredients and rich, flavorful sauce, it's no wonder that carbonara is one of the most popular pasta dishes in the world. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal, give spaghetti carbonara a try. You won't be disappointed!
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