Description
Mario Batali’s creamy pancetta pasta combines silky noodles with crisp Italian bacon in a luxurious sauce. Rich parmesan and black pepper elevate this Roman-inspired classic for home cooks seeking authentic flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 oz (113 g) pancetta, diced
- 3 large eggs
- 8 oz (226 g) spaghetti
- 1 cup (100 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Submerge spaghetti in rapidly boiling water, cooking until achieving an al dente texture. Drain pasta, retaining a small quantity of starchy cooking liquid for potential sauce modification.
- Pancetta Transformation: Sizzle pancetta cubes in a skillet, allowing them to caramelize into crisp, golden fragments that release intense, savory essence. Incorporate minced garlic, stirring swiftly to prevent scorching and develop aromatic undertones.
- Egg-Cheese Fusion: Whisk eggs and Parmesan into a seamless, velvety emulsion, eliminating any discernible egg streaks. Transfer pasta directly into the pancetta-garlic medley, immediately cascading the egg mixture over the heated noodles.
- Sauce Choreography: Continuously manipulate the pasta, ensuring the residual heat gently coaxes the eggs into a luxurious, silken coating. Maintain constant motion to prevent egg coagulation and guarantee uniform sauce distribution.
- Final Refinement: Season generously with freshly cracked black pepper, calibrating salt levels to complement the pancetta’s inherent saltiness. Plate immediately, optionally crowning with additional Parmesan shavings. Serve piping hot to preserve the sauce’s sumptuous, creamy consistency.
Notes
- Pasta Water Magic: Reserve a small amount of starchy pasta water to help emulsify and adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Crisp Pancetta Technique: Cook pancetta slowly over medium heat to render fat and achieve golden, crunchy texture without burning.
- Egg Tempering Trick: Pour egg mixture over hot pasta while continuously stirring to prevent scrambling and create smooth, silky sauce.
- Seasoning Balance: Taste and adjust salt carefully, as pancetta already provides significant saltiness to the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg