Carbonara

Directions

  1. 1Take the skin off the guanciale.
  2. 2Shave off the back part of the guanciale where the pepper is.
  3. 3Cut the guanciale into small strips or diced pieces.
  4. 4Start with a cold pan and sear the guanciale at low heat to render the fat.
  5. 5Prepare the eggs by separating the yolks; you will use two yolks per portion.
  6. 6Grate the Pecorino Romano cheese; use about 20 grams per portion.
  7. 7Add ground black pepper directly into the egg yolks.
  8. 8While the guanciale is searing, put the pasta in water.
  9. 9Once most of the fat has rendered from the guanciale, raise the temperature to make it crispy for about a minute.
  10. 10Take out half of the crispy guanciale.
  11. 11Pour a couple tablespoons of the rendered guanciale fat directly into the egg mixture, stirring constantly.
  12. 12Put the cooked pasta directly into the pan with the remaining guanciale.
  13. 13Pour the egg mixture directly into the pan with the pasta and guanciale.
  14. 14Add one ladle of pasta water to the pan.
  15. 15Plate the carbonara.
  16. 16Top the plated carbonara with a little bit of the reserved crispy guanciale.

Ingredients

  • 4 slices guanciale
  • 4 yolks eggs, at room temperature
  • 40 grams Pecorino Romano cheese
  • 220 grams pasta, Mezzemani rigate (half rigatoni) or spaghetti
  • ground black pepper
  • 1 ladle pasta water

Equipment

cold pan

Tips

  • Use good quality guanciale, such as Mozzelli.
  • Remove the skin and the back part where the pepper is from the guanciale.
  • Sear guanciale first at low heat to render the fat, then raise the temperature to make it crispy for about a minute.
  • Do not buy Pecorino Romano cheese in green plastic containers; use real romano cheese like Locatelli.
  • Normally, the pasta used in Italy for carbonara is spaghetti or Mezzemani rigate (half rigatoni).
  • Pour a couple tablespoons of rendered guanciale fat into the egg mixture, stirring constantly.
  • Plate the carbonara and top it with crispy guanciale.