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Carbonara — traditional dish from Rome, Italy
Main course Meat

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥670kcal
💪28gProtein
🌾78gCarbs
🥑30gFat
🌿4gFibre
⚖️350 gServing

* Per serving · 350 g. May vary.

Allergens

🌾 Gluten 🥛 Dairy 🥚 Eggs

Carbonara

How to order / say it
Say it Carbonara — [kar-boh-NAH-rah]
Order I'd like the carbonara, please.
Locally Vorrei la carbonara, per favore.
Say locally

A classic Roman pasta with eggs, cheese, pancetta, and pepper.

Why try it?

Carbonara is a quintessential Roman dish that encapsulates the simplicity and richness of Roman culinary tradition. Its creamy texture and savory flavor profile make it a beloved staple in Roman gastronomy.

How it tastes

The dish offers a creamy and rich sauce with a slightly salty and savory taste from the pancetta, balanced by a hint of sharpness from Pecorino Romano cheese. Black pepper adds a mild spice to the silky texture.

Origin & History — first documented: 1940

Carbonara is believed to have originated in Rome during the mid-20th century. It gained fame after World War II, possibly due to the availability of bacon and eggs from American soldiers stationed in Italy. This dish quickly became a staple as it represented a fusion of available ingredients with traditional Italian pasta.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🌾 200 g spaghetti
  • 🥩 100 g pancetta
  • 🥚 4 egg yolks
  • 🥛 80 g Pecorino Romano cheese
  • 🧂 2 g black pepper
  • 🧂 3 g salt

Method

  1. 1 Boil the spaghetti in salted water until al dente.
  2. 2 Fry the pancetta in a skillet until crispy.
  3. 3 Whisk egg yolks, Pecorino, and black pepper in a bowl.
  4. 4 Combine pasta, pancetta, and egg mixture in skillet over low heat until creamy, then serve.

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