Spaghetti Carbonara

The most popular of all pasta dishes out there, a traditional Spaghetti Carbonara is very simple at the heart of it (though its not so simple when it comes to your heart and cholesterol). The classic recipe uses cream, eggs and bacon over a bed of spaghetti. But ofcourse it has evolved, and each cook has their own secret ingredient to add. Traditionally only spaghetti and bacon are used (and its a marriage made in heaven), but   obviously you can use any pasta, any meat and add some veggies to the mix.


Here's my take on the Spaghetti Carbonara


250g Spaghetti
3 rashes of Bacon
2 Egg Yolks
1/2 cup Cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp Olive Oil
2 tbsp chopped Parsley or 2-3 leaves of Basil
Salt & Pepper to taste




Add water and a little salt to a big pot and bring to boil. Drop spaghetti into the pot of boiling water and cook for about 8 mins or till al dente. Drain and keep hot. While the pasta is cooking, heat a frying pan on medium heat. Add bacon and let it cook till its a little crisp and golden.


In a separate bowl combine eggs, cream and cheese and whisk to combine. Add salt and pepper according to taste. This is a basic carbonara sauce.


Add pasta to the bacon pan. Now toss the egg mixture into the hot pasta coating it well. Add parsley and serve.




Tip: While cooking the Spaghettin in the pot, add a tablespoon of oil. This will prevent the pasta from sticking to each other. Likewise also add some oil or butter after draining the pasta to prevent it from sticking and adding some additional flavour.


I love adding some spinach and mushrooms to this dish to give it a little earthy flavour.


My secret is to add a dash of nutmeg to the carbonara. It adds a beautiful flavour and aroma and really brings out the sauce.


Note: Bacon is already fatty and hence no oil is required in cooking it. Please do not add oil to crisp the bacon


It is important to keep the pasta hot after draining because the heat of the pasta actually 'cooks' the egg in the carbonara sauce and gradually thickens it. Just ensure you mix the two well.