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A close-up of a plate of spaghetti carbonara, topped with crispy pancetta and black pepper. This is one of our favorite pasta recipes.

Classic Spaghetti Carbonara

A simple and traditional Italian pasta dish made with eggs, cheese, pancetta, and black pepper.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 400 g spaghetti
For the Sauce
  • 150 g pancetta diced
  • 3 large eggs
  • 50 g Pecorino Romano cheese grated
  • 50 g Parmigiano Reggiano cheese grated
  • 1 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 1 pinch salt

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Skillet
  • Mixing bowl

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat a skillet over medium heat and fry the pancetta until crispy. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, grated cheeses, black pepper, and a pinch of salt.
  4. Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of the cooking water. Quickly toss the hot pasta with the pancetta, then remove from heat.
  5. Pour the egg and cheese mixture over the pasta, stirring quickly to create a creamy sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed.
  6. Serve immediately with extra grated cheese and black pepper.

Nutrition

Calories: 550kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 25gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 180mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 300IUCalcium: 250mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best results. Do not add cream, as it is not traditional in carbonara.

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