Lina Matrossova,lesson №3,19 November

Spagetti alla carbonara

Ingredients

• 500 gram(s) spaghetti
• 275 gram(s) pancetta (or lardons)
• 2 teaspoon(s) olive oil
• 60 ml white wine (dry or vermouth)
• 4 medium egg(s)
• 50 gram(s) parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
• 1 pinch of black pepper
• 60 ml double cream
• 1 sprinkling of nutmeg (freshly grated)

Method

1. Put a large pan of salted water on to boil for the pasta. Cut the pancetta into 1 x 1.5cm cubes. If the pancetta has its rind on, cut it off - and use a bigger piece of pancetta, as the amount I've specified is for the prepared cubes - and put the rind in a pan with a film of oil and cook it gently to render down.
2. Then in a large pan that will fit the pasta later, cook the pancetta cubes in the oil until crispy but not crunchy. Chuck over them the white wine or vermouth and let it bubble away so that, after a few minutes, you have a small amount of salty winey syrup left. Take the pan off the heat.
3. In a bowl, beat together the eggs, Parmesan, cream and some pepper. Cook the pasta more or less according to the packet instructions, but since you want it kept al dente start checking it 2 minutes before the wrapper says it's done. Lower in a cup and remove approximately 125ml of the pasta water before draining. Put the other pan, the one with the bacon cubes, on the heat and add the drained pasta, tossing well to coat with the syrupy pancetta. Add a little of the reserved pasta water to lubricate if necessary.
4. Take the pan off the heat again and add the eggs and cheese mixture, swiftly tossing everything to mix. Grind over some more pepper and grate over the nutmeg, carry proudly aloft, and dive in.