1 - STEP 1
Put a large saucepan of water on to boil.
2 - STEP 2
Finely chop the 100g pancetta, having first removed any rind.
3 - Finely grate 50g pecorino cheese and 50g parmesan and mix them together.
4 - STEP 3
Beat the 3 large eggs in a medium bowl and season with a little freshly grated black pepper.
5 - Set everything aside.
Spaghetti alla Carbonara | Taste Board
6 - STEP 4
Add 1 tsp salt to the boiling water, add 350g spaghetti and when the water comes back to the boil, cook at a constant simmer, covered, for 10 minutes or until al dente (just cooked).
7 - STEP 5
Squash 2 peeled plump garlic cloves with the blade of a knife, just to bruise it.
8 - STEP 6
While the spaghetti is cooking, fry the pancetta with the garlic.
9 - Drop 50g unsalted butter into a large frying pan or wok and, as soon as the butter has melted, tip in the pancetta and garlic.
10 - STEP 7
Leave to cook on a medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the pancetta is golden and crisp.
11 - The garlic has now imparted its flavour, so take it out with a slotted spoon and discard.
12 - STEP 8
Keep the heat under the pancetta on low.
13 - When the pasta is ready, lift it from the water with a pasta fork or tongs and put it in the frying pan with the pancetta.
14 - Don’t worry if a little water drops in the pan as well (you want this to happen) and don’t throw the pasta water away yet.
15 - STEP 9
Mix most of the cheese in with the eggs, keeping a small handful back for sprinkling over later.
16 - STEP 10
Take the pan of spaghetti and pancetta off the heat.
17 - Now quickly pour in the eggs and cheese.
18 - Using the tongs or a long fork, lift up the spaghetti so it mixes easily with the egg mixture, which thickens but doesn’t scramble, and everything is coated.
19 - STEP 11
Add extra pasta cooking water to keep it saucy (several tablespoons should do it).
20 - You don’t want it wet, just moist.
21 - Season with a little salt, if needed.
22 - STEP 12
Use a long-pronged fork to twist the pasta on to the serving plate or bowl.
23 - Serve immediately with a little sprinkling of the remaining cheese and a grating of black pepper.
24 - If the dish does get a little dry before serving, splash in some more hot pasta water and the glossy sauciness will be revived.
