The ultimate spaghetti carbonara recipe

[miss direct]

Has anyone got a really good recipe for spaghetti carbonara?

I've brought some real bacon back from Bulgaria - I've been craving this for ages as haven't found a decent one in Turkey (beef bacon) or Bulgaria (they use cream instead of egg yolk).

I'm willing to buy the absolute best ingredients to make the best ever carbonara. Suggestions welcome.

It would be good to have someone to cook it for to, but can't have everything.

 

[SheilaNaGig]

I’ve tried lots of different recipes and end up more or less doing my own version (like any of these things, there are dozens of perfect recipes, and in the end it comes down to your own favourite) but the one thing I’d insist on passing on as a tip is that you need to add more of the pasta cooking water in at the end than than you think!

Also, I liked the Guardian newspaper series of recipe articles that investigates the “perfect” version of various classic dishes. Here’s the carbonara one:

How to cook the perfect spaghetti carbonara

 

[SheilaNaGig]

Also.... beef bacon??

 

[miss direct]

Also.... beef bacon??

I know

 

[TopCat]

Also.... beef bacon??

Beef bacon is great in itself. But not really bacon. See Vegan cheese.

 

[TopCat]

Saute whole cloves of garlic in a lot of olive oil. Remove cloves and discard when golden.
Fry pancetta in the oil until crispy. Reserve.
Seperate some eggs.
Cook the spaghetti al dente. Warm a big bowl.
Add spaghetti to oil and pancetta. Whisk egg yolks in warm bowl. Add loads of grated Padano cheese. Add Spaghetti etc to eggs and mix. Add lots of black pepper. Get wine from fridge. Eat.

 

[DexterTCN]

 

[Artaxerxes]

Olive oil, chorizo or bacon bits, whack the pasta in, egg over it for a minute or two. Serve.

Cover in cheese to taste.

 

[Ms T]

Heat a tbsp of butter and a tbsp of olive oil and fry a whole, peeled and squashed clove of garlic in it to flavour it.

Remove garlic and fry pancetta until crisp.

Meanwhile cook your spaghetti in plenty of boiling, well-salted water and lightly beat a couple of eggs with some black pepper and, ideally, a mixture of Parmesan and pecorino.

When the pasta is cooked, take it out of the pan using tongs and add it to the pancetta pan, mixing well. This will ensure that there is some pasta water in your sauce. OFF THE HEAT, add the egg mixture to the pan and combine thoroughly. If necessary, add some more of the pasta water to get a nice creamy sauce. The starch in the pasta water is what does this btw. Science!

Serve with more Parmesan and pecorino.

This is hendo’s favourite dish so I make it several times a year. I might try just with egg yolks next time, or an extra yolk!

 

[Ms T]

Mine is pretty similar to the one Sheila linked to.

 

[The Octagon]

Heat a tbsp of butter and a tbsp of olive oil and fry a whole, peeled and squashed clove of garlic in it to flavour it.

Remove garlic and fry pancetta until crisp.

Meanwhile cook your spaghetti in plenty of boiling, well-salted water and lightly beat a couple of eggs with some black pepper and, ideally, a mixture of Parmesan and pecorino.

When the pasta is cooked, take it out of the pan using tongs and add it to the pancetta pan, mixing well. This will ensure that there is some pasta water in your sauce. OFF THE HEAT, add the egg mixture to the pan and combine thoroughly. If necessary, add some more of the pasta water to get a nice creamy sauce. The starch in the pasta water is what does this btw. Science!

Serve with more Parmesan and pecorino.

This is hendo’s favourite dish so I make it several times a year. I might try just with egg yolks next time, or an extra yolk!

Almost exactly the same as mine, although I leave the garlic clove in the pan while the pancetta is frying, then remove it before adding the spaghetti.

Pasta water def the key.

 

[trabuquera]

BTW the number one rookie error is to add cream / creme fraiche / other dairy gubbins to it. Not needed. All creaminess should come from the emulsifying egg.
Also, when you're turning egg mix + bacon + cooked pasta together in the pan - watch it like a hawk, don't answer the phone, don't walk awaaaaaaay, don't leave the heat on too high underneath it or you'll end up with pasta adorned with scrambled egg crumbs.

 

[FabricLiveBaby!]

Heat a tbsp of butter and a tbsp of olive oil and fry a whole, peeled and squashed clove of garlic in it to flavour it.

Remove garlic and fry pancetta until crisp.

Meanwhile cook your spaghetti in plenty of boiling, well-salted water and lightly beat a couple of eggs with some black pepper and, ideally, a mixture of Parmesan and pecorino.

When the pasta is cooked, take it out of the pan using tongs and add it to the pancetta pan, mixing well. This will ensure that there is some pasta water in your sauce. OFF THE HEAT, add the egg mixture to the pan and combine thoroughly. If necessary, add some more of the pasta water to get a nice creamy sauce. The starch in the pasta water is what does this btw. Science!

Serve with more Parmesan and pecorino.

This is hendo’s favourite dish so I make it several times a year. I might try just with egg yolks next time, or an extra yolk!

All of this. A good carbonara needs minimal ingredients. Pecorino patamsan mix/bacon/egg/pasta / garlic to flavour the oil.

 

[pastagirl]

Try this classic yummy recipe from Jamie Oliver..

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Beef bacon is great in itself. But not really bacon. See Vegan cheese.

Except vegan cheese is a bit like wax

 

[tim]

Also.... beef bacon??

It's better than turkey bacon.

 

[rutabowa]

carbonara is one of those amazing simple recipes that is much more than the some of its 4 ingredients (pasta, bacon, peas and cream)

 

[danny la rouge]

carbonara is one of those amazing simple recipes that is much more than the some of its 4 ingredients (pasta, bacon, peas and cream)

*opens popcorn*

 

[killer b]

a well pitched troll there rutabowa - I almost fell for it.

 

[Callie]

carbonara is one of those amazing simple recipes that is much more than the some of its 4 ingredients (pasta, bacon, peas and cream)

You forgot the cheddar