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Creamy Homemade Pasta Carbonara Recipe with Crispy Pancetta

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A quick and easy creamy pasta carbonara with crispy pancetta, made without cream using eggs, Parmesan, and pasta water for a silky sauce. Perfect for cozy dinners and crowd-pleasing meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces (340g) spaghetti or your favorite long pasta
  • Salt, for pasta water
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (100g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 6 ounces (170g) pancetta, diced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
  • 1 garlic clove, minced (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil using about 1 tablespoon of salt per 4 quarts (3.8L) of water. Cook 12 ounces (340g) spaghetti until al dente, about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced pancetta and 1 tablespoon olive oil if needed.
  3. Cook pancetta until crisp and golden, about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove skillet from heat once crispy, leaving pancetta fat in the pan.
  4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together 3 large eggs and 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Add a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper and whisk until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
  5. Reserve 1 cup (240ml) of pasta water before draining pasta. Drain pasta quickly but do not rinse.
  6. Add hot pasta to the skillet with pancetta and toss gently over low heat to coat noodles in fat.
  7. Remove skillet from heat. Slowly pour egg and cheese mixture over pasta while tossing vigorously. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen sauce to a creamy, glossy texture.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with extra black pepper or Parmesan if desired.
  9. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Use room temperature eggs for a silky sauce. Remove pan from heat before adding egg mixture to avoid scrambling. Add pasta water gradually to control sauce consistency. Crisp pancetta low and slow for best texture. Freshly grated Parmesan is essential for smooth sauce. Season pasta water well for flavor. Leftovers can be stored in fridge for up to 2 days and reheated gently with a splash of water.

Nutrition

Keywords: carbonara, pasta carbonara, creamy pasta, pancetta, easy pasta recipe, homemade carbonara, Italian pasta, quick dinner

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/creamy-homemade-pasta-carbonara-recipe-with-crispy-pancetta-easy-and-perfect/