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Spaghetti Carbonara

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Spaghetti Carbonara

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Servings 3

Ingredients

  • 100 g pancetta
  • 50 g parmesan
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 350 g spaghetti
  • 2 plump garlic cloves peeled and left whole
  • 50 g unsalted butter
  • sea salt
  • freshly grated black pepper

Instructions

  • Put a large saucepan of water on to boil.
  • Finely chop the 100g pancetta, having first removed any rind. Finely grate 100g parmesan
  • Beat the 3 large egg yolks in a medium bowl and season with a little freshly grated black pepper. Set everything aside.
  • Add 1 tsp salt to the boiling water, add 350g spaghetti and when the water comes back to the boil, cook at a constant simmer, covered, for 10 minutes or until al dente (just cooked).
  • While the spaghetti is cooking, fry the pancetta with the garlic. Drop 50g unsalted butter into a large frying pan or wok and, as soon as the butter has melted, tip in the pancetta and garlic.
  • Leave to cook on a medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the pancetta is golden and crisp. The garlic has now imparted its flavour, so take it out with a slotted spoon and discard.
  • Keep the heat under the pancetta on low. When the pasta is ready, lift it from the water with a pasta fork or tongs and put it in the frying pan with the pancetta. Don’t worry if a little water drops in the pan as well (you want this to happeand don’t throw the pasta water away yet.
  • Mix most of the cheese in with the eggs, keeping a small handful back for sprinkling over later.
  • Take the pan of spaghetti and pancetta off the heat. Now quickly pour in the eggs and cheese. Using the tongs or a long fork, lift up the spaghetti so it mixes easily with the egg mixture, which thickens but doesn’t scramble, and everything is coated.
  • Add extra pasta cooking water to keep it saucy (several tablespoons should do it). You don’t want it wet, just moist. Season with a little salt, if needed.

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About Me

Hi! My name is Caitriona and I like to cook, especially for my extended family and friends.

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