Best Pasta Carbonara (Without Cream!)
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
3 mins
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Cook Time
12 mins
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Total Time
15 mins
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Servings
2
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Calories
541 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Italian
Best Pasta Carbonara (Without Cream!)
Description
The recipe relies on al dente linguine tossed with a sauce of eggs and Parmesan cheese, using hot pasta and reserved cooking water to gently cook the eggs without scrambling. Bacon is rendered with butter and garlic to infuse flavor, while the garlic is then discarded to keep the sauce smooth. The pasta is moved directly from boiling water into the pan with the bacon and its rendered fat, allowing the residual heat and moisture to create an emulsified sauce.
This dish balances smoky bacon, creamy cheese and egg sauce, and freshly ground pepper. It requires quick, confident mixing off heat to achieve the smooth texture traditional to carbonara. Parsley is optional for a hint of freshness. It pairs well with green salad or vegetables to complement the richness.
Adjust the number of eggs for servings, typically one egg per person. The recipe advises using thick cut smoked bacon or pancetta for best results, with substitutes possible but less ideal. Pre-reading and memorizing the steps helps prevent common mishaps like scrambled eggs in the sauce.
Ingredients
- 4½ ounces linguine or spaghetti, or any pasta of your choice
- 3.5 ounces Bacon (or pancetta) chopped - thick cut smoked bacon is best (or lardons)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 garlic peeled but left whole, cloves
- 2 egg lightly whisked
- ⅓ cup Parmesan Cheese (or pecorino or parmigiano-reggiano), finely grated
- salt freshly ground
- black pepper freshly ground
- parsley optional, chopped, a little fresh
to serve (optional)
- green salad simple
- Green vegetables
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the cooking instructions until 'al dente'. Whisk half of the parmesan into the eggs, grind in some salt and pepper, and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large frying pan. Add the bacon/pancetta and garlic cloves and let cook, stirring often, for 5 - 10 minutes until golden and starting to crisp. Then discard the garlic.
- Take about half of the bacon out of the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside. Leave the bacon juices behind. Take the pan off the heat (very important!).
- Use kitchen tongs or a spaghetti server spoon to lift the pasta straight out of the cooking water and into the bacon pan.
- As quickly as you can, pour the eggs and parmesan mixture over the hot pasta in the pan. Also add a little more pasta cooking water. Briefly toss everything together so that the eggs `just` cook (without scrambling!).
- Quickly serve out a little of the pasta onto each dish. Top with a little of the reserved bacon and parmesan and grind over a little more salt and pepper. Top this layer with more pasta and the rest of the bacon and parmesan.
- Scatter with a little fresh parsley if using. Serve immediately by itself or with a simple green salad or green vegetables.
Notes
- Linguine is preferred but spaghetti, fettuccine, or any pasta can be used.
- Use one egg per person to scale the recipe servings.
- Thick cut smoked bacon or pancetta is best; thinner bacon or ham can be used with shorter cooking.
- Remove the pan from heat before adding the egg mixture to avoid scrambling eggs.
- Transfer pasta directly from boiling water to the pan to retain appropriate moisture for the sauce.
- Prepare all ingredients and steps in advance to work quickly and confidently when mixing.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 2Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 541 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 541kcal | 27% |
| Carbohydrates | 22g | 7% |
| Protein | 22g | 44% |
| Fat | 40g | 62% |
| Saturated Fat | 18g | 90% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5g | 29% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 238mg | 79% |
| Sodium | 749mg | 31% |
| Potassium | 218mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 736IU | 15% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 238mg | 24% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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