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Classic Spaghetti Carbonara

Photo: Aya Brackett

BY The Editors

PUBLISHED January 30, 2024

Who says you can’t honor tradition on a weeknight? After all, the sauce is only bacon, eggs, and Parmesan.

 

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Classic Spaghetti Carbonara

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Makes 4 servings 1x

Time 30 minutes

Units Scale

Ingredients

  • Salt
  • 4 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 pound spaghetti or other long pasta
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces)
  • Pepper

Instructions

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt it. Heat the oven to 200°F and put the serving bowl on the middle rack. Line a plate with paper towels. Put the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisped, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to the plate to drain. Remove the pan from the heat and reserve 2 tablespoons fat.
  2. Add the pasta to the boiling water, and cook, stir- ring occasionally, for 5 minutes, then start tasting. When the pasta is tender but still has some texture, scoop out 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta.
  3. Carefully remove the bowl from the oven, crack the eggs into it, add the cheese and lots of pepper, and beat the mixture with a fork. Immediately toss in the pasta, bacon, and the reserved fat; if it’s too dry, add a tablespoon or so of the pasta water. Taste, adjust the seasoning, and serve right away.

— Recipe from Dinner for Everyone: 100 Iconic Dishes Made 3 Ways

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