Authentic Italian Carbonara
Authentic Italian Carbonara
Simple & Authentic Carbonara Without Cream: Mastering the Egg Yolk Recipe
Here’s a recipe for a simple yet incredibly delicious authentic Carbonara. Traditionally, authentic Carbonara features egg yolks, Pecorino cheese, pepper, and Italian cured pork cheek (guanciale). However, this recipe is adapted for easier home cooking using readily available bacon and Parmesan cheese powder. 🙂
Main Ingredients- Spaghetti 60g
- Bacon 4 strips (Guanciale is preferred if available)
For Cooking Pasta- Water 1.5L
- Coarse Salt 1 tsp
For the Sauce- Egg Yolks 4
- Parmesan Cheese Powder 30g (approx. 3 Tbsp)
- Black Pepper to taste
For Garnish (Optional)- Dried Parsley Flakes (a pinch)
- Extra Grated Parmesan Cheese (for serving)
- Water 1.5L
- Coarse Salt 1 tsp
For the Sauce- Egg Yolks 4
- Parmesan Cheese Powder 30g (approx. 3 Tbsp)
- Black Pepper to taste
For Garnish (Optional)- Dried Parsley Flakes (a pinch)
- Extra Grated Parmesan Cheese (for serving)
- Dried Parsley Flakes (a pinch)
- Extra Grated Parmesan Cheese (for serving)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces, about 1 cm thick and 2-3 cm long. Cutting it a bit thicker will give it a better texture when cooked.
Step 2
Separate the egg yolks into a medium-sized bowl. Reserve the egg whites for another use.
Step 3
Add 30g of high-quality Parmesan cheese powder (about 3 tablespoons) to the bowl with the egg yolks. You can adjust the amount of cheese according to your preference.
Step 4
Grind fresh black pepper over the mixture to your taste. Freshly ground pepper is key to the authentic flavor of Carbonara.
Step 5
Using a whisk or a fork, mix the egg yolks, Parmesan cheese, and pepper thoroughly until well combined and slightly creamy. Ensure there are no lumps. This is your Carbonara sauce.
Step 6
Bring 1.5 liters of water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add 1 teaspoon of coarse salt to the water; this seasons the pasta as it cooks.
Step 7
Add 60g of spaghetti (per serving) to the boiling water, spreading it out so it doesn’t clump together.
Step 8
As soon as you add the pasta, gently stir it with chopsticks or tongs to prevent the strands from sticking to each other and to the bottom of the pot.
Step 9
Cook the spaghetti for about 6-7 minutes, or until al dente (tender but still firm to the bite). It’s best to cook it slightly less than the package instructions, as it will finish cooking in the sauce.
Step 10
While the pasta is cooking, place the cut bacon in a separate pan over low heat. Cook slowly, allowing the fat to render out. This rendered bacon fat is crucial for flavor.
Step 11
Once the bacon is golden brown and has released a good amount of its fat, add the cooked spaghetti to the pan. Turn the heat to medium and toss the pasta with the bacon and rendered fat to coat the strands evenly.
Step 12
Place the bowl containing the Carbonara sauce over the pot of hot pasta water (keep the heat on the stove very low or turn it off, just enough to maintain warmth). The residual heat will gently cook the sauce.
Step 13
Pour the bacon and pasta mixture from the pan into the sauce bowl. Scrape in any delicious bits stuck to the pan.
Step 14
If the sauce seems too thick to mix well, gradually add a ladleful or two of the hot pasta water. Quickly and energetically stir everything together with chopsticks or a spatula. The heat from the pasta and the pan, combined with the pasta water, will emulsify the sauce, coating the spaghetti beautifully without scrambling the eggs. The key is to mix rapidly!
Step 15
Finish with another grinding of black pepper. Serve the Carbonara immediately on a warm plate. Garnish with dried parsley flakes and extra grated Parmesan cheese for a more appealing presentation.
Step 16
Even though made with raw egg yolks, there’s absolutely no eggy smell! It tastes incredibly creamy and rich, just like a traditional cream sauce. The strong cheese flavor is wonderfully savory, and the black pepper cuts through any richness, making it perfectly balanced. The more you chew, the more the savory flavor develops. This dish is simple to make, uses few ingredients, and tastes amazing, so please give it a try! Enjoy your delicious meal!
