Roman-style Spaghetti Carbonara recipe
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Roman-style Spaghetti Carbonara

Many versions of carbonara use American style smoked bacon whose smoky accents can sometimes overwhelm the dish. Some Roman versions use salted pork jowl, which is not smoked and much sweeter than bacon (somewhat difficult to find outside of Italy). My version uses pancetta (Italian salt cured bacon), which supplies a comparably rounded and mellow flavor. Also, my version does not use whole eggs. I use egg yolks...I use multiple egg yolks...along with a little heavy cream to create an unctuously rich and luscious sauce. Mmm Mmm good!

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Servings: 2 Servings
Total Time (median): 0 : 00 Active Time: 0 : 00

US/Metric: [convert to metric]

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces spaghetti (or other pasta like fettuccini, linguine, or tortellini)
  • 4 ounces pancetta, cut into 1/4-inch dice
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 6 green onions, sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1/8 to 1/4 cup pasta cooking water
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Pecorino Romano cheese (optional)

Preparation

Add olive oil to a large skillet or saute pan over medium heat. Add diced pancetta and cook, stirring frequently until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add in the garlic and onion and continue cooking and stirring until just fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.

Cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente (just tender).

In a small bowl mix together egg yolks, cream, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Just before the pasta is finished cooking, remove 1/8 to 1/4 cup of the hot pasta water and slowly whisk into the egg yolk mixture (to temper eggs), beating vigorously to prevent eggs from scrambling.

Quickly drain the pasta in a colander and return to pot. Immediately toss in the egg and pancetta mixtures, stirring the spaghetti continuously to both cook the eggs and coat the pasta. Serve immediately in heated bowls with a healthy grind of black pepper and season with salt to taste. Top with grated Pecorino Romano, if desired

Fresh asparagus is a wonderful side dish with this meal and a good Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc washes it down nicely.


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Roman-style Spaghetti Carbonara Reviews

50% would make "Roman-style Spaghetti Carbonara" again.

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It was OK - was very salty, maybe because of the type of bacon but i wont be adding additional salt in future - also found there wasnt really enough sauce. As my rating says it was ok but not great, ill shall continue my search for the perfect spaghetti cabonara!!

Tanzc69Tanzc69 :  :  35w 2d ago


If you can't get pancetta, you can substitute ordinary bacon, but ham would be a better choice.

[I posted this recipe.]

sgrishkasgrishka :  :  2y 27w ago


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