Pasta has been a beloved cuisine staple for centuries, and for good reason. While all traditional pasta is made with a mixture of flour and egg, the countless combinations of pasta shapes and sauces means there’s a pasta dish to please any palate. Here, locals showcase their favorite pasta pairings, from authentic Italian dishes to creative twists on classics.
“Spaghetti alla carbonara is an Italian comfort food for fall and winter as its creamy sauce pairs perfectly with the starchy spaghetti noodles (linguini, rigatoni, and paccheri are good substitutes). Eggs, cheese, bacon – what could be better for a cold or drizzly night?”
Extra virgin olive oil, to coat (only if using pancetta)
1lb.spaghetti noodles
8small egg yolks or 6 large, room temperature
½cupPecorino Romano cheese, grated
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
In a large skillet, slowly cook pancetta in olive oil until crisp. Remove pancetta with a slotted spoon, and reserve the oil. Keep pancetta warm in a 150° oven along with your dinner plates.
Cook spaghetti in boiling, salted water. While the spaghetti cooks, mix egg yolks together with Pecorino cheese in a serving bowl, and beat well with a whisk or fork. Add cooled oil from the skillet used to cook pancetta, along with 2 tablespoons hot pasta water and half of the cooked pancetta.
When spaghetti is al dente, drain, leaving some water clinging to the pasta – tongs work well for this. Add spaghetti to a skillet on medium heat with some pasta water, and toss well to get the pasta hot. Keep pasta water hot for later.
Turn off heat. Spoon egg and cheese mixture over pasta, and mix with tongs until ingredients are incorporated and hot. Add hot pasta water if you need more moisture and heat. Be careful not to let the eggs get too hot, or they will scramble.
Plate pasta on heated plates with a sprinkling of pancetta and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.
Keyword carbonara, pasta, spaghetti, spaghetti alla carbonara
