Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe
Classic Italian pasta with pancetta, egg, and parmesan cheese.
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Ingredients
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Pasta
Sauce
Garnish
Method
Cooking the Pasta
- 1
Boil the Water
Fill a large pot with water, add a generous amount of salt, and bring it to a boil over high heat.
- 2
Cook the Spaghetti
Once the water is boiling, add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes.
- 3
Reserve Pasta Water
Before draining the pasta, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
- 4
Drain the Pasta
Drain the spaghetti in a colander and set aside.
Preparing the Sauce
- 5
Cook the Pancetta
In a large skillet, cook the pancetta over medium heat until it becomes crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- 6
Mix Eggs and Cheese
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, grated Parmesan cheese, and black pepper until well combined.
Combining Ingredients
- 7
Combine Pasta and Pancetta
Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with the pancetta. Toss to combine and let it cool slightly for about 1 minute.
- 8
Add Egg Mixture
Pour the egg and cheese mixture over the spaghetti, quickly tossing to coat the pasta evenly. The residual heat will cook the eggs but ensure they don’t scramble.
- 9
Adjust Consistency
If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water a little at a time until you reach the desired creamy consistency.
Serving
- 10
Plate the Dish
Serve the spaghetti carbonara immediately, garnished with chopped fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.