Description
You can make a wonderfully creamy Spaghetti Carbonara with peas quickly. This recipe honors tradition while keeping things simple for your busy life. Get ready for a satisfying pasta dish that tastes like you cooked all day.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 4 ounces pancetta or bacon, diced
- 2 large eggs plus 2 large egg yolks
- 1 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese, plus extra for serving
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Salt for pasta water
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente.
- While the pasta cooks, cook the pancetta or bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole eggs, egg yolks, and grated cheese until smooth. Season generously with black pepper.
- Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the spaghetti.
- Drain the spaghetti and immediately add it to the skillet with the rendered fat. Toss quickly.
- Add the frozen peas to the pasta and toss for about 30 seconds.
- Temper the eggs: Slowly whisk about 1/4 cup of the hot reserved pasta water into the egg and cheese mixture. This prevents the eggs from scrambling.
- Pour the tempered egg mixture over the hot pasta, tossing constantly and quickly off the heat. Add more pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, until a creamy sauce forms. Do not return the pan to the heat.
- Stir in the cooked pancetta/bacon. Serve immediately with extra cheese and pepper.
Notes
- The key to creamy carbonara is using the residual heat of the pasta and skillet, not direct heat, when adding the eggs.
- For the best texture, use high-quality Pecorino Romano cheese.
- If your sauce seems too thick, add a little more reserved hot pasta water until you reach your desired creaminess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Quick & Easy Meals
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 200mg