Featured, Pasta

Spaghetti Carbonara Romana

Spaghetti Carbonara Romana

Cuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Medium
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

25

minutes

Ingredients

  • Salt

  • 4 large eggs at room temperature—2 large eggs for mixture and 2 large eggs for poaching

  • 1 ounce (about ⅓ packed cup) grated pecorino Romano, plus additional for serving

  • 1 ounce (about ⅓ packed cup) grated Parmesan

  • Coarsely ground black pepper

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • ½ ounces of slab guanciale, pancetta, or center-cut bacon, sliced into pieces about ¼ inch thick by ⅓ inch square

  • 12 ounces spaghetti (about ¾ box)

Directions

  • Place a large pot of lightly salted water (no more than 1 tablespoon salt) over high heat and bring to a boil. Fill a large bowl with hot water for serving, and set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolks, pecorino, and Parmesan—season with a pinch of salt and generous black pepper.
  • Set the water to boil. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the pork, and sauté until the fat renders on the edge of crispness but not hard. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Add pasta to the water and boil until a bit firmer than al dente. Just before the pasta is ready, reheat the guanciale in skillet, if needed. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, drain the pasta and add it to the skillet over low heat. Stir for a minute or so.
  • Empty serving bowl of hot water. Dry it and add hot pasta mixture. Stir in the cheese mixture, adding some reserved pasta water for creaminess.
  • Poach the additional 2 eggs by breaking each egg into a separate cup and gently slide into barely simmering water. Poach at a bare simmer to the desired doneness (I prefer a barely firm white with a runny yolk, around 2 minutes). Serve pasta topped with egg (transfer using a slotted spoon). 
  • Serve immediately, dressing it with some additional grated pecorino and black pepper.

Notes

  • Never combine the ingredients in the pan you have had on the burner. The eggs will cook and harden. Place a stainless steel mixing bowl under your colander and let the pasta water heat the bowl. Discard the water and use the heated bowl to combine all ingredients. Toss for at least two minutes.

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