Creamy spaghetti carbonara recipe with Džiugas cheese
Creamy carbonara recipe with Džiugas cheese. Perfect for spaghetti lovers.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 90 g grated 12 month old Dziugas cheese
- 75 g pancetta (I use PANCETTA AFFUMICATA)
- ¾ tsp black pepper
- 180 g spaghetti
- 400 ml spaghetti water
Instructions
- Make the Egg Mixture: In a bowl, whisk together 2 eggs and 1 egg yolk. Season with black pepper and add grated cheese. Whisk well until combined. Set aside.
- Cook the Spaghetti: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add salt and then the spaghetti. Cook according to package instructions for "al dente" (slightly firm to the bite).
- Temper the Egg Mixture: While the spaghetti cooks, reserve about 200ml of the starchy pasta water in a separate container. Let it cool for a minute, then add it to the egg and cheese mixture. Whisk quickly until everything is thoroughly combined. Set aside.
- Cook the Pancetta: If you have a piece of pancetta then cut it into small cubes. Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta cubes and cook until golden brown and crispy.
- Combine Everything (Two Options):Option 1 (Spaghetti Cooked): If the spaghetti is already cooked, drain it, reserving some pasta water (about 200ml). Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan with the pancetta and pour in half of the reserved water. Mix everything for 1 minute. Then turn off the heat and pour the egg-cheese mixture into the pan. Quickly toss everything together with a silicone spatula. Add the remaining reserved water. The sauce will thicken up quickly due to the hot pan and pasta water. Continue tossing until everything is well combined and the sauce thickens.Option 2 (Spaghetti Not Cooked): If the spaghetti is not quite cooked yet but the pancetta is done, then turn off the heat under the pancetta once it's browned. Set the pancetta aside. Finish cooking the spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain, reserving some pasta water (about 200ml). Follow the steps in Option 1, adding the cooked spaghetti and reserved pasta water to the pan with the pancetta.
- Serve: Plate the spaghetti and pancetta mixture. Season with additional black pepper and grated cheese, if desired. Enjoy!