Carbonara Recipe Lidia Bastianich Food

SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA (SPAGHETTI WITH BACON, EGGS AND GRATED CHEESE)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
• Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until the fat has mostly rendered, about 4 to 5 minutes. Push the bacon to one side of the pan, and add the onion. Let both cook separately until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes, then mix the two together. Ladle 4 cups of pasta water into the skillet with the bacon and onion, bring to a rapid boil, and quickly reduce the sauce.
• While the sauce is reducing, add the spaghetti to the boiling water. Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk the egg yolks with 1/2 cup of hot pasta water. When the sauce has reduced by about half and the spaghetti is al dente, use tongs to scoop the pasta into the sauce. Add the pepper and salt to taste. Toss the pasta until it is coated in the sauce. Remove the pan from the heat, and quickly mix in the egg yolks, stirring until creamy. Toss the pasta with the grated cheese, and serve immediately.

PENNE A LA CARBONARA

Steps:

• Heat a large saute pan, until hot. Add pancetta and saute until golden brown and crispy, about 5 minutes. Season with black pepper and remove pan from heat.
• In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and cream. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in Parmesan, reserving 2 tablespoons for garnish.
• In a large pot, boil 6 quarts of salted boiling water. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta in a colander. Do not rinse with water; you want to retain the pasta's natural starches so that the sauce will stick. While the pasta is still hot, return it back to the pot. Add the browned pancetta and mix well. Add the cream mixture and coat the pasta completely. It's important to work quickly while the pasta is still warm so that the cream mixture will cook, but not curdle. Add remaining Parmesan and chopped parsley.

LIDIA'S SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Pass the tomatoes and their liquid through a food mill fitted with the fine disc.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a 4- to 5-quart pot over medium high heat. Stir in the onion and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 4 minutes.
• Pour in the tomatoes, crushed red pepper and bay leaves, and season lightly with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil, then lower the heat so the sauce is at a lively simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, crumble the pork and beef into a mixing bowl.
• Sprinkle the bread crumbs, 1/3 cup grated cheese, the parsley, and garlic over the meat.
• Beat the egg with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl until blended. Pour over the meat mixture. Mix the ingredients with clean hands just until evenly blended. Don't overmix.
• Shape the meat mixture into 1-1/2 inch balls.
• Dredge the meatballs in the flour until lightly but evenly coated.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil and the vegetable oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
• Slip as many meatballs into the skillet as will fit without crowding. Fry, turning as necessary, until golden brown on all sides, about 6 minutes. Adjust the heat as the meatballs cook to prevent them from overbrowning.
• Remove the meatballs, and repeat if necessary with the remaining meatballs.
• Add the browned meatballs to the tomato sauce and cook, stirring gently with a wooden spoon, until no trace of pink remains at the center of the meatballs, about 30 minutes.
• Stir the spaghetti into the boiling water. Return to a boil, stirring frequently. Cook the pasta, semi-covered, stirring occasionally, until done, about 8 minutes.
• Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Spoon in about 2 cups of the tomato sauce, tossing well until the pasta is coated with sauce.
• Remove from the heat and toss in 2/3 cup grated cheese. Check the seasoning, and add salt and pepper if necessary.
• Serve the pasta in warm bowls or piled high on a large warm platter.
• Spoon a little more of the sauce over the pasta, and pass the remaining sauce separately. Pass the meatballs family-style in a bowl, or top the bowls or platter of spaghetti with them.

LYDIA'S SPAGHETTI CARBONARA RECIPE - (3.5/5)

Steps:

• Bring 6 quarts of salted water to the boil in an 8-quart pot over high heat. Remove the rind, if necessary, from the bacon. Cut the bacon into 1/4-inch slices, then cut the slices crosswise into 1/4-inch strips. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring, until the bacon is lightly browned but still soft in the center, about 6 minutes. The amount of fat in the skillet will vary depending on the bacon. If there is more than 3 to 4 tablespoons of fat in the pan, pour off the excess. If there is less than 3 to 4 tablespoons, add enough olive oil to measure that amount. Add the onions and cook until wilted but still crunchy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the stock, bring to a boil, and adjust the heat to a lively simmer. Cook until the liquid is reduced by about half. Meanwhile, stir the linguine into the boiling salted water. Return to a boil, stirring frequently. Cook the pasta, semi-covered, stirring occasionally, until done, about 8 minutes. Ladle off about a cup of the pasta-cooking water. If the skillet is large enough to accommodate the sauce and pasta, fish the pasta out of the boiling water with a large wire skimmer and drop it directly into the sauce in the skillet. If not, drain the pasta, return it to the pot, and pour in the sauce. Bring the sauce and pasta to a boil, stirring to coat the pasta with sauce. Check the seasoning, adding salt if necessary. If necessary, add as much chicken stock or pasta-cooking water as needed to make enough sauce to coat the pasta generously. Remove the pan from the heat and add the egg yolks one at a time, tossing well after each. (A salad fork and spoon work well for this.) Add the grated cheese, then the black pepper, tossing well, and serve immediately in warmed bowls.