The final dish is served in a deep beige pasta bowl showcasing a nest of pasta strands generously coated with a creamy, golden sauce. The pasta is speckled with bits of crispy browned guanciale, and is finished off with a hearty sprinkle of grated pecorino and freshly ground black pepper. The dish exudes warmth, elegance, and is bound to make mouths water at its sight.

Classic Spaghetti Alla Carbonara

Category Main Course
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Style Italian
Technique Boiling
Diet Friendly Low-Carb

Daily Recipe: October 25, 2024

On this World Pasta Day, we invite you to immerse yourself in an Italian culinary experience with this classic, yet sumptuous pasta dish - Spaghetti Alla Carbonara. Traditionally, this rich pasta dish hails from Rome, Italy and it includes key ingredients like guanciale (pork jowl), pecorino cheese and eggs.

Ingredients (for 4)

Preparation

  1. Step 1 - 💧🥣🍝
    In a large pot, bring salted water to boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente
  2. Step 2 - 🥘🍖🔥
    Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan and add guanciale or pancetta. Cook until it becomes crisp and releases its fat
  3. Step 3 - 🥚🧀⚫
    In a bowl, combine egg yolks, grated pecorino, salt, and a generous amount of ground black pepper. Whisk together until smooth
  4. Step 4 - 🍝💧🥤
    When the pasta is cooked, set aside a cup of the pasta water before draining
  5. Step 5 - 💧🥚🌡️
    Slowly add a little hot pasta water to the egg and cheese mixture, constantly stirring. This tempers the egg yolks, preventing them from scrambling
  6. Step 6 - 🍝🍖⏲️
    Combine the pasta and the crispy guanciale or pancetta, using the remaining fat in the pan. Turn off the heat and let it cool for a minute or two
  7. Step 7 - 🥚🧀🍝
    Slowly pour over the egg and cheese mixture, tossing the pasta constantly until the dish becomes creamy. The residual heat will cook the eggs slightly
  8. Step 8 - 💧🧀🍝
    If needed, add a little more pasta water or cheese to adjust creaminess and taste. Top with more cheese and black pepper before serving
  9. Step 9 - 🍝🍽️🌿
    Serve it immediately and sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired

Additional

Being a traditional Italian dish, it's customary to use Guanciale, a type of Italian cured meat made from pork jowl. However, if you can't get your hands on Guanciale, a good-quality pancetta will suffice. Adding cream to Carbonara is a no-no in Italy, but the trick in this recipe is using the pasta water to help create the rich, creamy texture everyone loves. Enjoy the warmth of Italian cuisine on this World Pasta Day!