Monday, October 26, 2009

The Way to a Man's Heart - Bucatini Carbonara

John requested Pasta Carbonara last night for dinner.  I couldn't deny him such a simple request.  I've made Tyler Florence's Ultimate recipe countless times.  This pasta is truly one of life's ultimate pleasures.  I used Bucatini pasta and uncured Pepper Bacon in my version.  Don't deny your man.



The Ultimate Spaghetti Carbonara
Slightly adapted from Tyler's Ultimate: Brilliant Simple Food to Make Any Time
Serves 4

Ingredients

Kosher salt
Extra-virgin olive oil
8 slices Uncured Pepper Bacon, cut crosswise into thin strips
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large shallot, chopped
4 large eggs
6 tablespoons heavy cream
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 lb. Rustichella Bucatini pasta
Cracked black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil for the bucatini.

While waiting for the water to boil, heat a 3-count of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon, onion, and shallot, and cook for approximately 10 minutes, or until the onion and shallot is caramelized and the bacon is crisp.

By now, your water should be boiling.  Add the bucatini and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until al dente.

While the bucatini is cooking, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, and cheese in a medium bowl.  When the onion-shallot-bacon mixture is done, transfer it to the egg mixture, along with the bacon fat and whisk again to combine.

Cook the bucatini 8-10 minutes or until al dente.  Scoop out about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water and add that to the bowl with the bacon and eggs. Drain the bucatini, put it back into the pan you used to saute the onions, shallots and bacon, and pour the egg mixture over the top of the pasta.  Gently toss the pasta to combine and cover the pan for 5 minutes.

Plate the pasta, and add a sprinkling of parsley and Parmigiano-Reggiano.


5 comments:

Rose said...

Way to a man's heart? I think you just won mine! What time is dinner tonight :) ?! Great job. Looks delicious!

Denise said...

Thank you, Rose! Well, it's one of the ways to a man's heart, but not the only way ;-) And you should come to dinner sometime since we're almost neighbors!

Carmen said...

This is Chris' favorite dish! I use the version I learned from my landlady - Senora Canepa - when I lived in Arco Felice. For the pasta she used her own homemade cheese ravioli! I'd say your recipe is about the same as mine even down to the uncured bacon. One of these days I'll have you over for pasta puttanesca.

Ciao and mangiamo!

Rose said...

We should definitely organize something ;)

Chocolate Shavings said...

I love bucatini pasta - and with carbonara, that's just amazing!