Spaghetti Carbonara

Pasta meals are a favorite around my house! We are also trying to consume a little less meat so meals like this are perfect for us right now. The bacon is nice, but not overwhelming. 

Spaghetti Carbonara

3oz. bacon

2 cloves garlic

12oz. spaghetti

3 large eggs

¾ cup grated Parmesan

Freshly cracked pepper

Salt to taste

Handful fresh parsley (optional)

Fill a large pot with water for the pasta and season with salt. 

While waiting for the water to boil, cut the bacon into small pieces. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-low heat until brown and crispy. Remove the cooked bacon from the skillet, then turn the heat down to low. Mince two cloves of garlic, add them to the warm skillet, and sauté for about one minute or until fragrant and softened, then turn off the heat.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, ½ cup of the Parmesan, and a generous dose of freshly cracked pepper.

The water should be boiling at this point, so add the pasta, stir well, and continue to boil the pasta until al dente. Reserve one cup of the starchy pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta in a colander.

Add ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water to the skillet that was used to cook the bacon. Stir the warm water in the skillet and dissolve the browned bits from the surface of the skillet. Add the steaming hot drained pasta to the skillet and toss in the bacon liquid in the skillet.

Pour the egg and Parmesan mixture over the hot pasta and immediately begin to stir or toss the pasta.

Continue to stir the hot pasta in the egg mixture until a creamy sauce forms. Add the remaining Parmesan, a little more freshly cracked pepper, and the reserved bacon bits, and toss again. If the pasta becomes too thick or dry, add a splash more of the reserved pasta water.

Finally, taste the pasta and adjust the salt, Parmesan, or pepper if needed. Top with a pinch or two of roughly chopped parsley leaves.