Rich & Creamy Homemade Carbonara
Delicious and Creamy Carbonara Pasta Recipe
Celebrate special moments at home with this incredibly rich and creamy homemade Carbonara recipe. On the last day of 2017, when I woke up feeling a bit under the weather, Carbonara was the perfect comfort food! My husband kindly made it for me as a special brunch. This recipe is simple yet packed with deep, savory flavors. Enjoy a delightful brunch with your loved ones with this classic Italian pasta dish.
Ingredients- Your favorite pasta (Spaghetti, Linguine, etc.)
- Store-bought cream sauce or homemade cream sauce
- Thick-cut bacon
- Fresh onion
- Fresh egg yolks
- Whole milk
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, cut the bacon into roughly three pieces for easy handling. It’s a good idea to portion and freeze two of these pieces for future use. Peel and finely dice the onion. Prepping the ingredients like this makes the cooking process much smoother.
Step 2
Prepare a generous pot of water for boiling the pasta. Fill a deep pot with plenty of water, and once it starts boiling, add 1-2 pinches of salt and a little olive oil (this helps prevent the pasta from sticking together).
Step 3
As soon as the water comes to a rolling boil, carefully add the pasta, scattering it so it doesn’t clump. Stir the pasta well initially to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
Step 4
While the pasta is cooking (follow the package instructions, usually 7-10 minutes), prepare to make the Carbonara sauce. Get a slightly deep pan ready.
Step 5
Lightly coat the prepared pan with olive oil. Add the cut bacon and sauté over medium-low heat. Cook until the bacon releases its fat and becomes nicely browned. Cooking it slowly develops more flavor.
Step 6
Once the bacon is golden brown, add the diced onion and sauté it with the bacon. Cook until the onion becomes translucent and slightly sweet, mingling well with the bacon. Lightly browning the onion will enhance its flavor even further.
Step 7
After the bacon and onion are nicely sautéed, pour in the cream sauce. You can use a store-bought sauce or your own homemade version. Stir continuously over medium-low heat to prevent the sauce from burning.
Step 8
As the sauce begins to thicken, add a moderate amount of the pasta cooking water (pasta water) and milk to adjust the sauce’s consistency. It’s crucial to add the pasta water gradually until you achieve your desired thickness. Simmer lightly until the sauce becomes nicely creamy.
Step 9
Drain the perfectly cooked pasta from its pot and add it directly into the sauce pan. Toss and stir gently to coat the pasta thoroughly with the sauce. Just before turning off the heat, add only the egg yolks and quickly mix them in. The key is to mix rapidly so the yolks don’t scramble, preserving a smooth texture. (Mixing off the heat using residual warmth works wonderfully too.)
Step 10
Once the pasta and sauce are perfectly combined, plate it attractively on a warm dish. Finally, freshly grind some black pepper over the top, if desired. Your beautiful homemade Carbonara is ready! Enjoy your delicious meal.
