Description
Here's how to do a fresh take on a classic Italian dish, carbonara!
Ingredients
- 5 eggs
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 lb. spaghetti or linguine
- 3 tbsp salted butter
- 1 red onion
- 4 oz prosciutto
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- Step 1: Make the egg mixture: To begin, make the base of the sauce by whisking together five large egg yolks, a quarter cup of heavy cream, a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper, and one cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Once combined, set the mixture aside while you prepare the pasta.
- Step 2: Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a generous pinch of salt. Add one pound of spaghetti or linguini and cook until just al dente. Before draining the pasta, be sure to reserve about half a cup of the starchy cooking water, which will help create the sauce later. Once drained, return the pasta to the warm pot, off the heat.
- Step 3: Prepare the prosciutto and onion: While the pasta cooks, prepare the prosciutto and onion. Cut about four ounces of prosciutto into quarter-inch slivers, and finely dice one medium red onion. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt three tablespoons of salted butter, then add the prosciutto and onion. Cook the mixture until the prosciutto becomes crisp and the onion is just slightly softened. Turn off the heat, and reserve a small portion of the prosciutto-onion mixture to use as a garnish later.
- Step 4: Combine and finish: To the warm pot of drained pasta, add a quarter cup of the reserved pasta water along with one cup of frozen peas. Then add the rest of the prosciutto and onion mixture, making sure to scrape in all the flavorful butter and fat from the pan. Quickly re-whisk the egg and cheese mixture, then pour it over the pasta. Using tongs or a pasta fork, toss the pasta vigorously until the sauce is glossy, creamy, and coats each strand. The heat from the pasta and the reserved water will gently cook the eggs and melt the cheese, forming a rich, velvety sauce. If needed, add a bit more of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce to your liking.
- Step 5: Serve: Serve the pasta in bowls and finish with the reserved crispy prosciutto and onions. For extra flavor, you can sprinkle on more Parmesan and black pepper.
