🇮🇹 Italy · Food

Spaghetti Carbonara

20 min
Quicker than a pizza delivery
🔥 680 kcal
Feast-worthy
🍽 4 servings
Great for the family

By eatmundo · July 2, 2026

Spaghetti Carbonara🇮🇹 ITAlpha from Melbourne, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

A rich Roman pasta dish made with eggs, hard cheese, cured pork (guanciale), and black pepper.

Ingredients

How to Make It

  • 1

    Cook spaghetti al dente

  • 2

    Crisp guanciale

  • 3

    Whisk eggs with cheese and pepper

  • 4

    Combine all ingredients quickly

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use pancetta or bacon instead of guanciale for Carbonara?+

While guanciale provides the most authentic flavor and renders fat beautifully, good quality pancetta is a decent substitute. Bacon is generally too smoky and fatty, changing the dish's delicate balance.

How do I prevent the eggs from scrambling when making Carbonara?+

The key is to emulsify the egg and cheese mixture with the hot spaghetti and a little pasta water off the heat, ensuring the eggs cook gently into a creamy sauce without scrambling.

Should I use Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese in Carbonara?+

Authentic Carbonara uses Pecorino Romano for its sharp, salty, and pungent flavor. While Parmesan can be used in a pinch, it will result in a milder, sweeter sauce that isn't true to the original.

Why is reserving pasta water crucial for Spaghetti Carbonara?+

The starchy pasta water is essential for creating the creamy emulsified sauce. It helps bind the egg and cheese mixture, transforming it into a silky coating for the spaghetti.

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