Karen’s Carbonara

Recipe by: Karen Rosenbloom

Arguably the most indulgent pasta dish.

A carbonara, otherwise known as the bacon, egg & cheese of pasta is a cult classic.

You would think such a decadent dish is tedious to make, yet it only requires 5 ingredients and takes 20 minutes to make.

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound of pasta (any shape)

2 cups finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

6 pasteurized egg yolks

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 cup diced Guanciale

Salt and black pepper to taste

Makes 4 servings

Instructions:

Add the Guanciale to a cold pan in order to render its fat.

Rendering the Guanciale at a low temperature will allow the fat to melt and the meat to crisp.

When the Guanciale begins to brown, add about a teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper to lightly toast it.

Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil, salt generously & cook your pasta of choice until aldente.

*reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water… that stuff is liquid gold.

In a large bowl, combine the raw egg yolks, heavy cream & finely grated parmesan cheese; whisk thoroughly.

Note* as long as the egg yolks have been pasteurized, they are safe to consume according to the USDA.

Once the Guanciale is crisp, add it to the egg yolk mixture whisking constantly to avoid curdling.

Now, this is the important part-

With a sense of urgency, add the steaming hot pasta to the mixture and mix vigorously for 1-2 minutes.

The heat from the pasta will help cook the egg yolks & melt the cheese, while the rapid motion will allow the sauce to perfectly stick to the pasta.

At this point, it is optional to season with salt & black pepper if needed.

I garnish my carbonara with extra cheese and a single egg yolk.

Tips & Tricks:

Substitutions: Guanciale is a traditional ingredient in a carbonara and carries an authentic flavor. If you are unable to find it, I have made this same recipe using smoked bacon instead & it was equally incredible.

Pasta: You can use just about any shape of pasta in this recipe, I prefer Rigatoni because it allows the indulgent sauce to get trapped inside its cylindrical form.

Unless your guests are vegan or kosher, this is a crowd-pleaser every time. 

For more food content check out my Instagram @Karen_Eats or my Tiktok @Karens_Cooking.