Spaghetti Carbonara

Name: Spaghetti Carbonara
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 14 oz spaghetti (or rigatoni); 6 oz guanciale (or pancetta), cut into small strips; 3 large egg yolks, room temperature; 2 large whole eggs, room temperature; 1 1/4 cups finely grated Pecorino Romano, plus more for serving; 2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper, plus more for serving; 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for the pasta water; Coarsely cracked black pepper, for finishing

Carbonara has four ingredients and zero room for error, which is exactly why it intimidates people. Here is the good news: once you understand the two non-negotiables — toss the eggs off the heat, and loosen them with starchy pasta water — it becomes one of the most reliable dinners in your repertoire. The sauce turns silky from nothing but egg yolks, cheese, and reserved pasta water emulsifying together. No cream, no garlic, no shortcuts. Just the version the Romans have been making forever, and it is worth every bit of attention.

Bowl of spaghetti carbonara with crispy guanciale, silky egg sauce, and black pepper

By AmiraCuisinety Test Kitchen · recipe tested twice before publishing

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time15 minutes

Total Time25 minutes

Servings4

DifficultyMedium

Ingredients

14 oz spaghetti (or rigatoni)
6 oz guanciale (or pancetta), cut into small strips
3 large egg yolks, room temperature
2 large whole eggs, room temperature
1 1/4 cups finely grated Pecorino Romano, plus more for serving
2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper, plus more for serving
1 teaspoon salt, plus more for the pasta water
Coarsely cracked black pepper, for finishing

Instructions

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Whisk the egg yolks, whole eggs, Pecorino, and black pepper in a medium bowl until smooth and set aside.
Cook the guanciale in a large cold skillet set over medium heat, letting the fat render slowly for 8–10 minutes until deeply golden and crisp. Turn off the heat and leave the fat in the pan.
Cook the spaghetti in the boiling water until just shy of al dente (about 1 minute less than the package says). Before draining, reserve 1 1/2 cups of the starchy pasta water.
Add 1/2 cup of the hot pasta water to the skillet with the rendered fat and swirl to combine.
Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet. Toss well off the heat, then immediately pour in the egg mixture and stir vigorously with tongs, adding splashes of pasta water, until the sauce turns glossy and coats every strand. The residual heat cooks the eggs — never return the pan to the burner.
Serve right away in warm bowls, topped with extra Pecorino and a heavy crack of black pepper. Carbonara waits for no one.

Tips for Success

Work fast and off the heat when the eggs go in. A pan that is too hot makes scrambled eggs; the pasta water is what keeps the sauce liquid and silky.
Render the guanciale from a cold pan so the fat melts gradually and the pieces crisp instead of burning.
Grate the Pecorino as finely as possible — coarse shreds melt into grainy strings instead of a smooth sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use bacon instead of guanciale?

Yes, pancetta or unsmoked bacon are the closest substitutes. Skip heavily smoked American bacon if you can — it dominates the dish — but in a pinch it still makes a satisfying carbonara.

Are the eggs raw in carbonara?

The residual heat of the pasta gently cooks the eggs into a custard-like sauce — they are not raw, but they are not scrambled either. The technique is the same principle as making hollandaise or French silk pie.

Why did my sauce turn into scrambled eggs?

The pan or pasta was too hot when the eggs went in. Kill the heat, let the skillet rest a beat before tossing, and loosen everything with hot pasta water as you stir.

Can I add cream, garlic, or peas?

You can — but then it is not carbonara, it is a lovely cream pasta. The traditional Roman version gets all its richness from eggs, cheese, and guanciale fat alone.

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