carbonara recipe ingredients

Carbonara Recipe

This carbonara recipe delivers a rich, silky, and authentic Italian-style pasta made without cream. The sauce becomes naturally creamy from eggs, cheese, and starchy pasta water, giving every strand of spaghetti a luxurious coating.

buldak carbonara recipe
buldak carbonara recipe

Ingredients

  • 6 oz guanciale (or pancetta/bacon), cut into batons
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 cup finely grated parmesan or pecorino
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 14 oz spaghetti
  • 1 tablespoon salt (for boiling pasta)
  • ½ cup reserved pasta water
  • 1 garlic clove, minced (optional)

Directions

  • Whisk eggs, yolks, cheese, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl.
  • Boil spaghetti in salted water according to package instructions.
  • Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
  • Cook guanciale in a pan over medium-high heat until golden and crisp.
  • Add hot spaghetti to the pan and toss to coat in the guanciale fat.
  • Transfer pasta and all fat into the bowl with the egg mixture.
  • Immediately add the reserved pasta water and stir vigorously for about 1 minute until the sauce becomes creamy and clings to the pasta.
  • Serve right away in warm bowls.
bacon carbonara recipe
bacon carbonara recipe

Preparation Details

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Servings: 4
  • Yield: 1 pasta dish