Gennaro’s classic spaghetti carbonara

Gennaro’s Classic Spaghetti Carbonara is a rich and comforting Italian pasta dish inspired by the traditional cooking of Rome. It features perfectly cooked spaghetti coated in a smooth, glossy sauce made from egg yolks, finely grated Parmesan cheese, freshly ground black pepper, and a small amount of reserved pasta water. Crisp pieces of pancetta add a savory, smoky flavor, while garlic is used briefly to perfume the cooking fat before being removed. The hot pasta gently cooks the egg and cheese mixture, creating a creamy texture without using heavy cream. Simple, elegant, and ready in about 25 minutes, this classic carbonara is ideal for weeknight dinners, family meals, or special occasions. Finished with extra Parmesan and black pepper, it delivers bold Italian flavor in every bite.

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Rest Time 5 mins

Total Time 20 mins

Cooking Method: Boil

Cuisine: Italian

Courses: Dinner

Difficulty: Beginner

Calories: 860

Ingredients

Ingredients for Gennaro's classic spaghetti carbonara

3 large free-range egg yolks
40 Parmesan cheese, plus extra to serve
1 150g piece of higher-welfare pancetta
200 200g dried spaghetti
1 1 clove of garlic
extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Instructions For Gennaro's classic spaghetti carbonara

1
Step 1Put the egg yolks into a bowl, finely grate in the Parmesan, season with pepper, then mix well with a fork and put to one side.
2
Step 2Cut any hard skin off the pancetta and set aside, then chop the meat.
3
Step 3Cook the spaghetti in a large pan of boiling salted water until al dente.
4
Step 4Meanwhile, rub the pancetta skin, if you have any, all over the base of a medium frying pan (this will add fantastic flavour, or use 1 tablespoon of oil instead), then place over a medium-high heat.
5
Step 5Peel the garlic, then crush with the palm of your hand, add it to the pan and leave it to flavour the fat for 1 minute. Stir in the pancetta, then cook for 4 minutes, or until it starts to crisp up.
6
Step 6Pick out and discard the garlic from the pan, then, reserving some of the cooking water, drain and add the spaghetti. Toss well over the heat so it really soaks up all that lovely flavour, then remove the pan from the heat.
7
Step 7Add a splash of the cooking water and toss well, season with pepper, then pour in the egg mixture – the pan will help to cook the egg gently, rather than scrambling it. Toss well, adding more cooking water until it’s lovely and glossy.
8
Step 8Serve with a grating of Parmesan and an extra twist of pepper.

Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving
Calories 860kcal

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 47.5g74%
Saturated Fat 16.5g83%
Total Carbohydrate 74.79g25%
Dietary Fiber 3.08g13%
Sugars 3.6g
Protein 37.8g76%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.