About the Recipe
There are two reasons for my using bacon in this recipe instead of pancetta or guanciale: firstly, I thought it would help the video go viral, as people would get angry and write comments. Secondly, I am cheap
If you’re feeling fancy or have Italian roots, use pancetta/guanciale instead of the bacon
Ingredients
Spaghetti/linguine/tagliatelle – 150g
Pancetta/guanciale or, in my case, thick bacon – 120g
Egg yolk – 4
Pecorino Romano cheese – 30g
Freshly cracked black pepper – to taste
Method
Separate the yolks from the whites, add the yolks to a bowl
Grate the cheese, add to bowl with yolks
Add some black pepper to the mixture and mix well
Cut your meat into dice or strips
Add the meat to a cold pan, fry on medium heat until crispy. Turn off the heat and set aside once cooked
Cook your pasta according to instructions on the packet, making sure not to overcook it
Preserve a cup of pasta water before draining it when it’s cooked
Add the pasta to the pan with the bacon (do not turn on heat), along with a dash of pasta water
Add the egg and cheese mixture to the pan, mix very well
Add more water if needed
If the sauce isn’t coming together because the pan is too cold, add a little heat, but DO NOT turn your carbonara into an omelet
When your sauce has come together and you’re happy, add black pepper or salt to taste, if needed