Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe
Pasta tossed with pancetta, egg, and Parmesan cheese.
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Ingredients
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Pasta
Sauce
Garnish
Method
Cooking Pasta
Boil Water
In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Use about 1 tablespoon of salt for every 4 quarts of water.
Cook Spaghetti
Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes.
Reserve Pasta Water
Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
Drain Spaghetti
Drain the spaghetti and return it to the pot off the heat.
Preparing the Sauce
Cook Pancetta
In a skillet over medium heat, add the pancetta and cook until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat.
Mix Eggs and Cheese
In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined. Add black pepper and mix again.
Combining Ingredients
Combine Pasta and Pancetta
Add the cooked pancetta to the pot with the drained spaghetti and mix well.
Add Egg Mixture
Quickly pour the egg and cheese mixture over the hot pasta, stirring vigorously to create a creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until desired consistency is achieved.
Season
Taste and add salt if necessary, and more black pepper to taste.
Serving
Garnish
Serve the carbonara immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.