Gluten Free Weekend

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Pasta Carbonara

When I started dating my husband, it was great to find out we shared a common love for food an cooking. Until we had our fight about how to cook carbonara.

Joking aside, it wasn't a real fight, but it shows how important is carbonara in Rome. We had no doubt about the basic ingredients, but you can find slightly different cooking techniques: only yolks vs 2 yolks and 1 egg white, stirring the pasta and cream in a pan vs mixing in a bowl, what is the right time to add the cheese.
I have to admit that his recipe is more simple and fail proof, so that's the one I'm sharing here.

Ingredients (for 2 people)

  • 200 gr gluten-free pasta
  • 100 gr guanciale (if not available use pancetta, bacon or spek)
  • 30 gr pecorino cheese
  • 2 yolks
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  1. Start with boiling the water for the pasta. In the meantime, prepare the carbonara cream with only 3 ingredients. Whisk the egg yolks in a big bowl and add enough grated pecorino to create a dense cream, for 2 egg yolks I'd suggest approximately 30 gr. Add pepper to taste, 1/2 teaspoon suggested.
  2. When the water is boiling, add the pasta and 1 tbsp of salt to the pot, mix well and leave to cook for the duration recommended in the package.
  3. Cut guanciale in cubes or little strips, and cook in a pan with olive oil until brown. It won't take more than 5 min over medium heat, pay attention that it doesn't burn. 
  4. Drain the pasta when al dente, and get ready to combine the ingredients, follow the order to make the real carbonara: take the bowl with the eggs and cheese cream, stir in the pasta and add the guanciale with the the boiling oil, mix quickly. The hot oil will slightly cook the eggs, without creating any lumps. 
  5. Sprinkle each portion with some grated pecorino and freshly ground black pepper. Serve and eat while hot!

TIPS: Gluten-free pasta can absorb more water than the normal one. Set aside some cooking water before you drain the pasta, and add it to the final pasta mix if needed, to keep it creamy.

Have you tried it? Do you have any suggestions? Leave your comment!

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