Description
A realistic, budget-friendly weeknight carbonara that uses guanciale, eggs, and Pecorino Romano to create a silky sauce without cream. This foolproof method prevents scrambled eggs and delivers restaurant-quality flavor in about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (225g) guanciale, cut into small strips or cubes
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup (100g) freshly grated Pecorino Romano
- 1 pound (450g) spaghetti or rigatoni
- 1–2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper
- Salt for pasta water
Instructions
- Cut the guanciale into strips and grate the Pecorino Romano. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with most of the cheese and a generous amount of black pepper. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente (8-10 minutes). Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add guanciale and cook for 5-7 minutes until fat renders and meat is crispy. Turn off the heat and let sit for 1 minute.
- Remove skillet from heat and let cool for 1-2 minutes. Pour the egg and cheese mixture into the skillet with the guanciale and fat. Stir quickly and constantly until a creamy sauce forms.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss with tongs, adding splashes of reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Serve immediately, topped with remaining Pecorino Romano and extra black pepper.
Notes
The pan must be off the heat when adding the egg mixture to prevent scrambling. Use freshly grated cheese, not pre-grated, to avoid anti-caking agents. Save pasta water for emulsifying the sauce. If guanciale is unavailable, thick-cut bacon is a suitable substitute.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
Keywords: carbonara, italian pasta, guanciale, pecorino romano, weeknight dinner, easy pasta, authentic carbonara, family dinner, budget friendly