Restaurant-Style Creamy Carbonara Pasta
DIY Carbonara Pasta: Rich and Creamy, Impress Your Friends with This Easy Recipe
Elevate your weeknight dinner with this incredibly easy yet delicious Carbonara pasta. Using a store-bought cream pasta sauce as a base, we’ll add a few pantry staples and fresh ingredients to create a rich, satisfying dish that rivals your favorite Italian restaurant. Get ready for a creamy, dreamy pasta experience!
Pasta & Topping Ingredients- Spaghetti for 2 servings (approx. 200g)
- 1 handful of Tteokguk tteok (rice cake slices) – optional, for chewy texture
- 80g Bacon, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 2 Shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 1/2 Onion, thinly sliced
- 2 Egg yolks (the secret to a rich sauce!)
- 2 Tbsp Cooking oil
Cream Sauce Ingredients- 1 pouch Store-bought cream pasta sauce
- 1 cup Milk (approx. 200ml)
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 pinch Black pepper
- 1 pouch Store-bought cream pasta sauce
- 1 cup Milk (approx. 200ml)
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 pinch Black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt. Once boiling, add the spaghetti for 2 servings and the handful of tteokguk tteok. Cook for about 8 minutes, or 1 minute less than the package instructions. Drain the pasta and rice cakes and set aside. Adding the rice cakes will give the pasta a delightful chewy texture.
Step 2
Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until golden brown and slightly crispy. Once the bacon has rendered some fat, add the sliced onion and shiitake mushrooms. Sauté until the onions become translucent and the mushrooms are tender. This step builds a fantastic flavor base for your pasta.
Step 3
Pour 1 cup of milk into the pan with the sautéed ingredients. Reduce the heat to low and let it gently simmer. Once the milk is warm, stir in 1 pinch of salt and 1 pinch of black pepper. Add 1 slice of cheese and stir until it’s completely melted, creating a smooth and creamy sauce base.
Step 4
Now, pour in the entire pouch of store-bought cream pasta sauce. Stir well to combine everything. Using a pre-made sauce makes achieving a rich and flavorful carbonara incredibly simple.
Step 5
Add the drained spaghetti and tteokguk tteok to the pan. Toss gently to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce. Let it simmer for another 1-2 minutes, allowing the pasta to absorb the delicious sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, you can add a little more milk to reach your desired consistency. Turn off the heat.
Step 6
Finally, add the 2 egg yolks directly onto the hot pasta. Quickly toss everything together off the heat. The residual heat from the pasta will gently cook the egg yolks, creating an even richer, creamier, and more luxurious sauce that defines a perfect Carbonara. Serve immediately and enjoy your homemade masterpiece!
