Chef John's Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Spaghetti alla carbonara's creamy sauce is simply a thin egg and cheese custard, spiked with pork and black pepper. Try to find pancetta or guanciale (pork cheek cured like pancetta) for a really authentic taste!

• Preparation Time: 5 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 25 mins
• Calories: 688 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 6 ounces spaghetti
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
• 4 ounces guanciale, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 3 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• 1 cup reserved pasta water

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Cook guanciale with olive oil and 1 teaspoon ground black pepper in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat until almost crisp, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low.

Step 2

Whisk eggs, 3 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, 3 tablespoons Pecorino Romano cheese, and 1 teaspoon ground black pepper in a bowl. Set aside.

Step 3

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water.

Step 4

Pour reserved pasta water and drained spaghetti into the bacon-pepper mixture; stir to combine.

Step 5

Slowly pour egg mixture into the pasta mixture; cook, stirring constantly until the egg mixture forms a thick sauce, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 6

Stir remaining 3 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and 3 tablespoons Pecorino Romano cheese into the pasta mixture and serve.