Spaghetti Carbonara
Experience the ultimate comfort of creamy Roman spaghetti tossed with savory cured beef cheek and rich egg yolks.
Ingredients
- •1 pound spaghetti (450g)
- •7 ounces kosher cured beef cheek or pastrami (200g), diced
- •4 large egg yolks
- •1 whole large egg
- •1 cup finely grated pecorino romano cheese or hard pareve cheese substitute (100g)
- •1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- •Salt for pasta water
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente according to the package instructions.
- 2
While the pasta cooks, place the diced cured beef in a large skillet over medium heat and render the fat until the meat is crispy and golden, then remove the skillet from the heat.
- 3
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, whole egg, grated cheese, and freshly cracked black pepper until a thick paste forms.
- 4
Reserve one cup of the starchy pasta cooking water before draining the spaghetti.
- 5
Add the hot drained spaghetti directly into the skillet with the rendered beef and toss well to coat the pasta in the flavored oils.
- 6
Allow the pasta to cool slightly for one minute, then pour the egg and cheese mixture over the spaghetti while vigorously stirring and tossing continuously.
- 7
Gradually splash in small amounts of the reserved warm pasta water, stirring constantly, until a glossy, creamy sauce coats every strand of pasta without scrambling the eggs.
- 8
Serve immediately topped with extra grated cheese and another pinch of cracked black pepper.
💡 Chef tips
- Always remove the skillet from the direct heat source before adding the egg mixture to prevent scrambling the eggs into bits of omelet.
- Use pasta water rich in starch to help emulsify the eggs and fat into a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Pecorino Romano provides the authentic salty kick, but ensure any cheese substitute used is certified kosher.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished dish should feature al dente spaghetti enveloped in a velvety, glossy sauce with a sharp peppery kick and savory bites of crispy cured beef.