OnlineCook - Classic Pasta Carbonara by These Carbs Don't Count

June 7, 2025

This Classic Pasta Carbonara is a rich and silky Roman favorite made with simple ingredients done right. Creamy without using cream, the sauce is created by emulsifying egg yolks with starchy pasta water and plenty of cheese. Crispy pancetta or guanciale brings depth and texture, while fresh black pepper adds just the right amount of heat. Perfect for a comforting yet refined meal, this dish showcases the magic of technique and quality ingredients.

$5.96 / Serving Star

Estimated Price

8 Ingredients

MEDIUM

1/1

Classic Pasta Carbonara

These Carbs Don't Count

Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Classic Pasta Carbonara

½ pound spaghetti

3 egg yolks(room temperature)

½ cup Pecorino Romano cheesegrated

½ cup Parmesan cheesegrated

4 ounce guanciale or pancettadiced

Saltto taste (for pasta water only)

Black pepperfreshly cracked

1 cup Reserved pasta waterup to

Instructions

Cook spaghetti in well-salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks, Pecorino Romano, and Parmesan to form a thick paste.

Add a spoonful of rendered fat from the pancetta/guanciale and a generous amount of black pepper to the egg and cheese mixture. Mix well.

In a cold pan, add pancetta or guanciale and cook over medium heat until crispy and browned. Remove some fat if needed, then set meat aside.

Remove pan from heat and let cool slightly. Add cooked pasta to the pan (still off heat).

Quickly pour in the egg mixture along with a dash of reserved pasta water. Mix vigorously until the sauce emulsifies and becomes creamy—avoid scrambling the eggs.

Stir in additional cheese and pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency. Fold in the cooked pancetta/guanciale.

Serve immediately topped with more black pepper and grated cheese.

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