×

Spaghetti Carbonara

Posted by Natalie × 11:29 AM

I am a pasta fiend. Anything pasta is good, and everything about carbonara screams my name (pasta, cheese, bacon... YES PLEASE). What I did not know, however, is that spaghetti carbonara is actually a Roman specialty. I am now more convinced than ever that Rome was meant for me (double points for the fact that they practically worship the artichoke, too). After my rough and tumble arrival and struggle settling in I began craving something super homey and filling since I basically lived off of focaccia and water for the first several days living here. I finally satisfied my grumbling cravings with this plate of fresh carbonara from a little restaurant near Piazza di Spagna. The pancetta and cheese sauce accompanying the al dente noodles was light but very filling, rejuvenating my aching body and filling me with warmth. The sauce wasn't as smooth as I'm used to making, probably because it had visible chunks (or scrambly bits) of egg, because it was simple and tasty and not overdone.

I picked up a copy of an easy at-home recipe for spaghetti carbonara at the front desk of our study center in case I want to test my hand at making it like the locals here (I've made a Japanese version several times before at home and it's seriously amazing stuff)! Now that I'm writing this post I want to stuff my face with another plate of this stuff... But instead I'll copy down the recipe in case I need a reference and lost that dandy sheet of paper.

SPAGHETTI CARBONARA
Ingredienti
  • 1/2 lb. spaghetti
  • Bacon (thickly sliced is better)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 - 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • Black pepper (coarsely ground, at least 1 tbsp.)

Ricetta
  1. Slice the bacon into 1 cm pieces. Put the pieces aside in an unheated frying pan.
  2. Bring water to boil in heavy pot for pasta.
  3. Once the water is boiling, add the pasta in. Usually the pasta is ready in 10 minutes but depends on the type (check the packaging!).
  4. Meanwhile, turn on the heat under the frying pan to medium-high.
  5. Cook the bacon but not too much, so it is soft and just slightly browned.
  6. Quickly dump the pasta in the strainer. Shake quickly and return to the hot pot you originally used to boil it in.
  7. Pour bacon over the pasta in the pot and begin to stir.
  8. Add the beaten eggs and continue to stir. The eggs will cook from the heat of th ebacon fat and host pasta (and he hot pot).
  9. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and continue to stir.
  10. Add pepper.
  11. Serve immediately.
Tags: ×

0 comments