Classic Pasta Carbonara

This recipe, unlike my earlier Currin’s Carbonara, is the pared down traditional Carbonara and is one of the most classic Italian pasta dishes. It’s a creamy, delicious dish (without cream) and ready in 15 minutes or less. Instead of pancetta, the recipe calls for guanciale, which can be found at most high end grocery stores, a local butcher or an Italian market.

Ingredients

-12 oz. tonnarelli, spaghetti, mezze maniche or rigatoni
-4 oz. guanciale or rindless bacon
-¼ cup grated Pecorino Romano (or Parmigiano Reggiano)
-4 organic, free range large egg yolks
-Kosher salt 
-Fresh black pepper

Method

• Cut the guanciale into ¼″ layers, then into long, 2″ strips.

• Combine the egg yolks with the grated cheese and a pinch of black pepper in a small bowl.

• Brown the strips of guanciale for 2 minutes in a pan, until crisp, then turn off the heat and leave to cool.

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt. Cook the pasta, setting aside a ladleful of the pasta cooking water, until al dente. Drain. 

• Pour the reserved hot water into the frying pan with the cooled guanciale, then transfer the pasta to the same pan and mix together. Add the yolk and cheese mixture, stirring rapidly.

• In the warm pan with the hot pasta, the eggs will cook gently and become creamy – don't stir over heat otherwise the carbonara will become lumpy. It's important to stir quickly to prevent the yolks from congealing and taking on the texture of scrambled eggs.

• Season with freshly milled black pepper and serve immediately on heated plates.

Wine Pairings

Aligning with the origin of the dish, the parings are all from Italian wine makers.  The best carbonara pairing is probably a white wine, perhaps from central Italy. However, rosé, sparkling and a few red wines also pair well. But you have to be careful with reds, taking care to avoid those that are too tannic.   

White

Soave Classico Vintage Edition 2019

Alto Adige Pinot Bianco Dellago 2020 

Red

Bardolino 2020 

Cortona Syrah Julie e Giulià 2018 

Rose

Valtènesi Chiaretto Roseri 2019

Sparkling

Franciacorta Berlucchi '61 Nature Rosé

Il Pestifero 2019 - Tenuta di Tavignano