Spaghetti Carbonara

Silky egg sauce, crispy pork, no cream

Prep: Cook: Serves: 4

Ingredients

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  • 1 lb spaghetti
  • 8 oz guanciale or pancetta, diced
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 1½ cups Pecorino Romano, grated
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Salt

Instructions

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  1. Cook pasta in well-salted water. Reserve 1½ cups pasta water.
  2. Cook guanciale in cold skillet over medium until crispy, . Remove from heat.
  3. Whisk yolks, eggs, most Pecorino, and plenty of black pepper.
  4. Drain pasta, add to skillet with guanciale (off heat).
  5. Pour egg mixture over pasta, toss vigorously. Residual heat cooks eggs.
  6. Add pasta water until sauce is silky.
  7. Serve with remaining Pecorino and pepper.

Notes

  • Key: take pan OFF heat before adding eggs.
  • Work fast - pasta must be hot.
  • No cream in real carbonara - ever.

Serious Eats (Kenji López-Alt tested)