Spaghetti alla Carbonara
After doing the amatriciana bianca or gricia, this other classic pasta dish was just waiting to be fixed in my kitchen. Both gricia and spaghetti alla carbonara are very similar to each other because of the use of guanciale and pancetta but the latter has eggs and a lot of pepper because carbonara refers to charcoal.
If you like gricia, then most likely you would also like this pasta because the most dominant flavor is the guanciale (unless you don't like eggs).
Some recipes would include cream to attain the creaminess of the sauce
but most Italians would shake their heads on that with horrified
expressions. Cream is not commonly used in Italian cooking (my relief
on that!). Instead, to attain the creaminess in the sauce, you have to
whisk the cheese and eggs well and avoid cooking the eggs.
Enjoy this simple and classic pasta!
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
Ingredients:Serves 4
- 400 grams spaghetti
- 200 grams guanciale, diced
- 6 egg yolks
- 1 whole egg
- 100 grams Pecorino Romano
- black pepper
- Boil water for the pasta. When it boils, add some salt then the pasta. Follow the cooking time suggested in the package.
- In a small bowl, mix the egg yolks, egg, and pecorino romano. Whisk well.
- In a saucepan, toast the guanciale until they become crunchy. Turn off the fire.
- When the pasta is cooked, transfer to a big bowl. Pour the egg & cheese mixture immediately. Add the guanciale with a little bit of its oil. Discard the rest of the oil. Mix well.
- Sprinkle a lot of pepper or according to taste.
- *Note: The eggs should be mixed with the pasta away from the fire to avoid cooking of the eggs. They should cook slowly with the heat of the pasta and remain creamy.
