Classic Carbonara

Such a simple, delicious and super quick pasta dish! I've made this over and over for these very reasons! And I find it hard to understand why anyone would complicate it or deviate from the proper Italian way of doing it! Put that tub of cream away!!! There are several theories about how carbonara was invented, none of which sound particularly plausible, but it is generally agreed that it comes originally from Rome or at least nearby, and only since around the time of WW2. Despite it's wishy-washy past, there is no argument that this dish isn't now considered a classic! Here's how to make it...

Ingredients 

(Serves 4)

400g dried spaghetti

140g pancetta cubes (or sliced smoked streaky bacon)

2 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic

5 eggs

60g parmesan

60g pecorino romano

Cracked black pepper for seasoning 

That's it!!

Please note that in the pictures here I was making just one lonely portion. So your quantities may look different! 

Method

1. Peel and crush the garlic cloves a little, and pop in a sauté pan with the olive oil and pancetta, begin to cook on a low heat to melt the fat from the meat.

2. Bring some well salted water to the boil and add your spaghetti.

3. Grate the cheese into a bowl, add the black pepper and eggs and mix together, this will form the sauce. 

4. Turn up the heat on the pancetta now to get the remaining fat nice and brown and crisp. 

5. When the spaghetti is just cooked, remove the sauté pan from the heat and allow to cool slightly for around 1 minute.

6. Transfer the spaghetti to the sauté pan, encouraging a little of the pasta water to go along with it. 

7. Stir in the egg and cheese mixture, tossing among the spaghetti with two forks to evenly coat it all. 

Holly's hints- it is important that the pan temperature is just right at this stage, so the egg gently cooks through a little but remains as a nice creamy sauce rather than scrambling!! 

Add a little more pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed. 

8. Serve and eat straight away! Add a little garnish of basil to prettify it if you feel the urge!...

9. Repeat time and time again!!!