Indulge in the symphony of flavors that is spaghetti alla carbonara, a quintessential dish originating from the heart of Rome. This classic Italian pasta is characterized by its rich, creamy sauce, generously coated on perfectly cooked spaghetti. The sauce is crafted with eggs, hard cheese like Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano, black pepper, and guanciale or pancetta, lending a smoky, savory depth. This article presents a collection of three distinct carbonara recipes, each offering unique variations on this beloved dish. The first recipe stays true to the traditional Roman carbonara, using guanciale and Pecorino Romano cheese. The second recipe introduces a vegetarian twist, replacing the guanciale with roasted and salted zucchini, while still maintaining the classic carbonara flavors. The third recipe takes a modern approach, incorporating smoked salmon and peas, resulting in a vibrant and flavorful carbonara. Whether you prefer the traditional, vegetarian, or modern rendition, these recipes promise an unforgettable culinary experience.
Let's cook with our recipes!
TRADITIONAL ITALIAN SPAGHETTI CARBONARA
Spaghetti Carbonara is one of the most famous Pasta Recipes of Roman Cuisine. It's a simple pasta dish, whose authentic recipe wants only 5 simple ingredients: eggs, guanciale, ground black pepper, grated pecorino romano and spaghetti. This is the traditional recipe for spaghetti carbonara, so you need no other ingredients; DO NOT use garlic, parsley, onion, cream, milk or parmigiano Reggiano. If you read this recipe thoroughly, you will see that there are many Spaghetti Carbonara variants, also here in Italy, but they are...variants of this authentic recipe. Which is very simple and fast to make. The only difficulty is to make sure that the eggs do not cook so much to look like scrumbled eggs or too little to be raw and cold. There are a few tricks to make a perfect carbonara and now we'll let you know.
Provided by Recipes from Italy
Categories pasta recipes
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Cut the guanciale into small pieces then simmer in a frying pan over medium heat for about 2 or 3 minutes. When ready, turn off the heat, cover with a lid and set aside.
- Whisk grated Pecorino Romano with eggs. Add a little bit of ground black pepper. Stir quickly until you get a creamy sauce and set aside.
- Cook the spaghetti al dente in plenty of salted water, following the cooking time you find on the pasta packaging.
- With the help of a spaghetti spoon, drain when they are ready. Then put them in the frying pan, OVER HIGH HEAT, to season them properly with the fat of the guanciale.
- When the spaghetti and guanciale are sizzling in the pan, turn off the heat. Now quickly add the eggs and pecorino cream and stir. Pay attention to the consistency, which must be creamy, but not fluid. If you notice that your spaghetti carbonara is too liquid, add some grated pecorino. On the other hand, if you see that they are too sticky and dense, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of cooking water.
- With the help of a ladle and a fork, create a pasta nest and place it on a plate. Add guanciale (the one left in the pan), freshly grounded black pepper and grated pecorino Romano cheese to taste.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 100 g, Calories 379 cal
THE BEST CARBONARA
Now this is our idea of comfort food. Creamy and rich, it's the quintessential dish for a chilly evening. We like to splurge every once in a while and add a knob of butter to the cheesy egg sauce just to round it out. We've left that option up to you, however. Either way, we can't think of a more classic or satisfying pasta dish.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 20m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
- Whisk together the eggs, yolks, Parmesan, Pecorino, pepper and butter if using in a large bowl until well combined.
- Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Meanwhile, cook the pancetta in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Add the spaghetti and half the reserved pasta cooking water to the skillet and toss to combine.
- Add the egg mixture and toss to coat. Cook, tossing continuously to avoid scrambling the eggs, until the sauce is creamy, thinning it with the remaining pasta water if it becomes too thick (it should be saucy but not watery), about 1 minute.
- Divide the pasta among plates and sprinkle with more grated Parmesan.
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.
SPAGHETTI CARBONARA II
A super rich, classic 'bacon and egg' spaghetti dish. Great to serve for company. This recipe also makes an unusual brunch offering.
Provided by SABRINATEE
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Spaghetti Recipes
Time 40m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook spaghetti pasta until al dente. Drain well. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and set aside.
- Meanwhile in a large skillet, cook chopped bacon until slightly crisp; remove and drain onto paper towels. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon fat; add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, and heat in reused large skillet. Add chopped onion, and cook over medium heat until onion is translucent. Add minced garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Add wine if desired; cook one more minute.
- Return cooked bacon to pan; add cooked and drained spaghetti. Toss to coat and heat through, adding more olive oil if it seems dry or is sticking together. Add beaten eggs and cook, tossing constantly with tongs or large fork until eggs are barely set. Quickly add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and toss again. Add salt and pepper to taste (remember that bacon and Parmesan are very salty).
- Serve immediately with chopped parsley sprinkled on top, and extra Parmesan cheese at table.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 444.1 calories, Carbohydrate 44.7 g, Cholesterol 117.5 mg, Fat 21.1 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 16.4 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 368.8 mg, Sugar 2.4 g
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Look for guanciale or pancetta that is well-marbled and has a good amount of fat. Use fresh eggs and Pecorino Romano cheese that is at least 6 months old.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Cook it until it is al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. This will help to prevent the pasta from becoming mushy.
- Don't add the cheese and eggs to the pasta until it is hot. This will help to prevent the cheese from curdling and the eggs from scrambling.
- Stir the pasta constantly while adding the cheese and eggs. This will help to ensure that the sauce is evenly distributed.
- Serve the pasta immediately. Carbonara is best enjoyed when it is hot and fresh.
Conclusion:
Carbonara is a delicious and easy-to-make pasta dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful and satisfying dish that the whole family will enjoy. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy dinner idea, give carbonara a try. You won't be disappointed!
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