American Carbonara - The Stay At Home Chef

This unassuming spin on an Italian staple is sure to inspire a craving for pasta. What I love most about this recipe is its remarkable simplicity: it’s effortlessly prepared with a minimal outlay of modestly priced components. Trust us when we say that this pasta dish will quickly become a new favorite in your culinary repertoire.

Contents

Ingredient Notes Pasta Options Add More Veggies Pasta Water Storage & Reheating

Why Our Recipe

Ready to indulge in a culinary delight? Savor the flavor in just 25 minutes!
Uses affordable and accessible ingredients.
The sauce boasts a luxurious texture, crafted from a harmonious blend of eggs, pasta cooking liquid, and nutty Parmesan cheese.

A pair of tongs serving up a American Carbonara.

Carbonara is a beloved pasta dish that holds a special place in many hearts – including mine. The velvety egg and cheese sauce, paired with the satisfying crunch of crispy bacon, embodies my ideal pasta experience. In the American adaptation, we substitute bacon for traditional pancetta due to its greater accessibility and affordability within the US market. We also add frozen peas, which emerge radiantly bright and refreshingly sweet, providing a vibrant pop of flavour. Thwarting the need for tedious thawing, simply toss them into your dish.

Ingredient Notes

Just use from the box. Cook pasta until al dente, where each bite yields a satisfying balance of tenderness and firmer texture.
A simple yet satisfying choice: Thin-cut, smoked bacon will suffice. To elevate the dish, consider using thick-cut bacon for added depth of flavor and texture.
While freshly minced garlic offers superior flavour, jarred minced garlic is still a reliable alternative. The subtle nuances of jam flavors – Jarred’s unique profile presents a less saccharine taste experience, instead leaning towards a slightly more astringent character.
Use large, high-quality grade AA eggs for this recipe to ensure optimal results. Combining egg yolks with whole eggs is key to crafting a silky-smooth sauce that’s simply divine.
When it comes to a silky-smooth melted cheese, freshly grated Parmesan is the clear winner.
No need to thaw; these ingredients will heat through quickly within the sauce.

Pasta Options

While spaghetti is the classic pairing for carbonara, you’re under no obligation to stick with tradition; experiment with other pasta shapes to find your new favorite combination. While nearly all long, slender pasta shapes would work well in this dish, for optimal results, opt for ones with some texture or ridges to trap the flavorful sauce. Other favourites include linguine, fettuccine, and bucatini.

Add More Veggies

Why not add some extra vegetables to boost the nutritional value of this pasta dish and make it a real powerhouse? And are all excellent options that harmonize beautifully with peas.

American Carbonara in a bowl topped with fresh grated parmesan cheese.

Pasta Water

The key to unlocking a matchless union between pasta and cheese lies in the humble art of crafting the perfect pasta water. As the pasta cooks, the starch released binds with the sauce’s ingredients, seamlessly blending them into a velvety consistency. No clumpy cheese here. To fine-tune the consistency of your sauce, simply add a small amount of reserved pasta cooking water as required.

To achieve perfectly cooked pasta, wait until the very end to collect your pasta cooking water, thereby ensuring it’s rich in starch. To reserve pasta cooking liquid, dip the rim of a 2-cup measuring cup into the pot containing cooked pasta, ensuring it holds at least 1 1/2 cups of the starchy water. Before serving, you can cook your pasta to al dente perfection then proceed with the next steps in your recipe.

Storage & Reheating

Stored in an airtight container, leftovers will remain fresh for up to four days.

In a saucepan, heat is applied at a moderate and controlled pace, set to medium-low. Allowing a measured amount of water to be incorporated and stirring intermittently as the mixture warms gently throughout.