Do you ever have those days where you think:What are we going to cook for dinner? You need to go grocery shopping,you didn’t take anything out of the freezer and you really don’t want to make anything that takes too much effort. Spaghetti alla Carbonara is the perfect dish for such an occasion!
I haven’t made Spaghetti alla Carbonara in a long time but a few weeks ago I was visiting Chef Chuck and noticed the great new videos on his blog. I watched him cook a Carbonara and told myself I had to make it again soon,so last night –I did. It’s a great tasting,easy to cook recipe that the whole family will love!
Here’s what you need (serves 2):
- 1/2 pound of spaghetti (I like Spaghetti #12 because it’s a bit thicker)
- 1 onion
- 1-2 cloves of garlic
- diced sopressata,bacon or pancetta
- 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup of grated parmigiano or romano cheese
- salt and pepper
Here’s what you need to do:
- Add 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to a large saucepan and simmer your onions,garlic and sopressata for 10-15 minutes over low heat until your onions are caramelized.
- Beat your egg and grated parmigiano cheese together in a bowl and set it aside.
- Cook your spaghetti separately and then add it to the saucepan with your onions,garlic and sopressata.
- Pour the egg and parmigiano over your spaghetti and mix it all together. The hot spaghetti will cook the egg as you mix it all together. If it’s too thick you can add a splash of pasta water (the water you cooked the past in.)
- Add salt and pepper to taste…remember that the sopressata (bacon or pancetta) is already pretty salty,so you probably won’t need to add much salt.
Pretty simple right? Make sure to visit Chef Chuck and see him cook it on video.
Oh,did I mention that the Sopressata is ready?? We won first prize AGAIN! Do you want to try it? I’m giving one away so this is what you have to do to participate. Comment on this post by Friday at 5pm EST and retweet this post by clicking on the retweet button in the upper right hand corner (you’re not on twitter?!!? Get it together! you’ll need to sing-up now won’t you?) I’ll choose a winner at random…for US participants only (sorry but sending meats internationally isn’t easy or cheap!)
PS –Chuck gets a sopressata for the inspiration. Thanks Chef!
Your timing is excellent! I happen to be enjoying some spaghetti alla carbonara right now! The addition of a decent sopressata would make it downright perfect!
Cheers!
Kate
I may just have to sign up for Twitter for this contest. I’ve been dreaming of your soppressata and would LOVE to have a sample.
Spaghetti alla Carbonara is my favourite standby dish…if I cannot think what to have,I always have the igredients for this..
That sounds yummy and I happen to have all the ingredients on hand to make for dinner!
Funny I also just posted a Carbonara recipe. I would love to try your sopressata…I’m sure its wonderful!!
OMG you are killing me with this recipe Joe! This looks so good,&I’m hungry now for sure! No doubt you are getting this miserable weather down there as well.. a perfect dish to warm the soul. I’ve also never tried homemade soppressata,only store bought as well. I’d love to sample the difference. Bravo maestro for another win!
Congrats on winning the award (again). What fun that all is –I bet it just tastes like a bite of summertime-Italy. I adore Carbonara and do not make it nearly enough –I forget how easy it is. I have a lot of fond memories of family meals over carbonara!
Congrats! I agree it is the best! Your carnoara looks fantastic! No scrambled egg effect. Brava!
oops..carbonara! Who typed that? haha!
Carbonara is one of my all time favorites. I recently made some with home-cured guanciale.
Hello Joe,I want to thank you for trying our classic Italian dish with your fine meats!
And also I feel privileged to be mentioned at your blog!
Grazie Grazie!!
Congrats on your first place prize again! It looks sooooooo good!
You rock,Joe,and your family! Congratulations on your winning sopressata. Spaghetti alla anything is our go-to meal.
Darn it! I knew that I’d have to buy a place in the States! First prize…wow!! Congrats.
Thanks for all the comments! Just so everyone knows…the “first prize”is a joke…it’s a little pat on the back that we like to give ourselves. There wasn’t any real competition.:)
JOE,
it’s been a while since I made this dish. It is one of my all time favorites! And as others have mentioned,a proper prosciutto is needed. Lo speck is not available here,but I bet your Dad’s sopressata comes pretty close. Hope I win!
Spaghetti alla Carbonara. This week I have made and eaten with my father. Wonderful.
I’ve never tried to attempt this recipe even though its a dish I crave often. I think I’ve always been afraid of frying the egg in the pasta. I will have to try your recipe. It looks delish!
The salami looks exactly like ours!
So delicious!