The Ultimate Spaghetti Carbonara



We wanted a bulletproof version of this much-beloved, simple Roman pasta dish of noodles draped in a luscious, porky, cheesy sauce.

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49 Comments

  1. i always wondered what’s the difference between adding parmesan cheese vs pecorino for carbonara after watching many other videos about this dish (i don’t eat many cheese), you’re the first to point it out! thanks!!

  2. You need to cut the skinrind off of the guanciale. It becomes tough and chewy when it's cooked. Olive oil is not needed. Guanciale is cooked on low heat and it will render it's fat. It's the only lipid you need. If cooked properly the guanciale should be crisp, no almost crisp, on the outside and still tender on the inside. Don't drain the pasta. Use tongs or a pasta scoop and transfer it directly into the pan of guanciale. You WANT the pasta to be wet. You do not need to add pasta water to the eggcheese mixture if the past is taken directly from the water and mixed with the guanciale. The combining of the pastaguanciale with the eggcheese should be done off the heat or you'll end up with scrambled eggs. If the sauce is too thin, add some of the starchy pasta water to help it thicken. DO NOT make extra and think it will be okay as leftovers. It won't. Carbonara is meant to be served immediately. If you're cooking for two people, make two servings only.

  3. Nice try but in reality it was a dish invented at the end of World War II when American soldiers had bacon, which, by the way, is the original fat and not pancetta or Guanciale and eggs, which the Americans had. An interesting sidebar is that bacon is an acceptable ingredient and lends a smokiness to the dish, which is not unpleasant and which is used by many Italian/ Americans to this day.

  4. This is one of my go-to quick cooks for dinner. Ready in less than 15 minutes. Also one of my most favorite pasta dishes. Pecorino really is a must for authentic flavor, but Parmigianino Reggiano is more readily available and work, too. I have also used bacon when guanciale or pancetta is not available.

  5. No no no. You don't pour the guanciale on the pasta. Half of all the flavour gets lost. You put the pasta in the pan and the eggs and cheese in there too. Then you toss the pasta in the pan. Don't stir…

  6. Well, they don't sell all the ingredients where I live, unfortunately. So, I have made it with substitutes, and it was still fabulous. Next time I drive to the big city I'll have to shop for them and try it out with the better ingredients. I love both Carbonara and Cacio e Pepe.

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