Go Back
Spaghetti carbonara with guanciale and Pecorino
Vagner Carvalho

Spaghetti Carbonara with Guanciale

Carbonara gets its creamy texture from eggs, cheese, rendered guanciale fat, and pasta water. No cream is needed.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 750

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g spaghetti
  • 150 g guanciale cut into small batons
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 80 g Pecorino Romano finely grated
  • 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt for pasta water, adjust to taste

Method
 

  1. Whisk eggs, yolks, finely grated Pecorino, and pepper in a large heatproof bowl.
  2. Place guanciale in a cool skillet and set over medium-low heat. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring, until golden and the fat has rendered. Turn off heat; keep the guanciale and about 3 tablespoons fat.
  3. Cook spaghetti in lightly salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water. Toss drained pasta with guanciale and its fat.
  4. Let the skillet cool off the heat for about 1 minute. Transfer pasta to the egg mixture, tossing constantly. Add hot pasta water 1 tablespoon at a time until the sauce is smooth and glossy.
  5. If the sauce is too thin, set the bowl over the pot of hot water, without touching the water, and toss briefly until it thickens. Serve immediately. Use pasteurized eggs for a lower-risk preparation; this gentle method may not fully cook ordinary eggs.

Notes

Nutrition is an estimate per serving, based on the stated yield. Actual values vary by brands and optional toppings. Times are estimates; use the visual and temperature cues in the method.