CARBONARA

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil “Oro Di Frantoio” or unsalted butter
• 230g pound pancetta or thick cut bacon, diced
• 1-2 garlic cloves, minced, about 1 teaspoon (optional)
• 3-4 whole eggs
• 1 cup grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese
• Gentile spaghetti
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Put a large pot of salted water on to boil. Once the water has reached a rolling boil, add the dry pasta, and cook, uncovered, at a rolling boil.
2. While the water is coming to a boil, heat the olive oil or butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the bacon or pancetta and cook slowly until crispy. Add the garlic (if using) and cook another minute, then turn off the heat and put the pancetta and garlic into a large bowl.
3. In a small bowl, beat the eggs and mix in about half of the cheese.
4. When the pasta is al dente (still a little firm, not mushy),  move it to the bowl with the bacon and garlic. Let it be dripping wet. Reserve some of the pasta water. Move the pasta from the pot to the bowl quickly, because the heat of the pasta will heat the eggs sufficiently to create a creamy sauce. Toss everything to combine, allowing the pasta to cool just enough so that it doesn’t make the eggs curdle when you mix them in.
5. Add the beaten eggs with cheese and toss quickly to combine once more. Add salt to taste. Add some pasta water back to the pasta to keep it from drying out.
6. Serve at once with the rest of the parmesan and freshly ground black pepper. If you want, sprinkle with a little fresh chopped parsley.