Bucatini With Guanciale Recipes

BUCATINI CARBONARA WITH GUANCIALE AND EXTRA CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a skillet to medium heat and add olive oil and cubed guanciale. Cook on medium heat for about 8-10 minutes until pork is crisp and fat has rendered. Be sure to stir every so often to encourage even cooking and so the fat doesn't burn.
• Once done, remove pork to a plate and if you have excess fat, carefully pour some of it out.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
• While the water comes to a boil, in a large bowl, whisk together the whole eggs and egg yolks, shredded cheese and a good few turns of black pepper.
• Once pasta is done cooking (I always taste as I go for al-dente), use tongs to left the pasta our of the water and add directly to the egg mixture.
• Use tongs and toss the pasta with the egg mixture for a few minutes until thickened. If it's too thick, add a few teaspoons of reserved pasta water and toss again. If it's too thin, continue mixing and it will thicken up.
• Add cooked guanciale and toss again. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper and garnish with an extra shaving of Parmesan cheese.

BUCATINI ALL'AMATRICIANA

Steps:

• Sauce, part 1: Dice the guanciale, then sauté in olive oil over medium heat, 6-8 minutes or until the guanciale is crisp.
• Pasta: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente, about 3 minutes less than what the box advises. (Chef Mantuano advises using bronze-cut pasta for his dishes. These noodles are made with bronze molds instead of Teflon, for a surface texture that's a bit rougher and more porous. This greatly helps the sauce to cling to each noodle.)
• Sauce, part 2: Add the tomatoes to the crispy guanciale and bring to a simmer. Using a wooden spoon, stir the sauce occasionally, breaking up the tomatoes as they are cooking, 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Assembly: Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain the bucatini. Return the pasta to the pot. Season the sauce with chili flakes and black pepper. Pour sauce and reserved pasta water into the pot and cook over low heat, tossing the pasta with the sauce to allow them to "marry," 2 minutes. The pasta should still be firm to the bite.
• Transfer the pasta to a platter. Grate Pecorino Romano directly on top, about ½ cup. Serve immediately, passing more cheese at the table.

BUCATINI WITH GUANCIALE AND A MILD CURRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Clean the leeks, cut them in half lengthwise and then slice them not too thinly.
• Slice the guanciale into strips, place in a small saucepan with high sides and brown with 4 tablespoons of oil. Once the guanciale begins to turn a little transparent, after about 3-4 minutes, add the leeks and 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder and cook over low heat for 4-5 minutes.
• Cook the pasta in boiling salted water; meanwhile, remove the crusts from the bread and blend it to break it up into small pieces.
• Then sauté the bread crumbs in a pan with 4 tablespoons of oil and a clove of unpeeled, crushed garlic for 2-3 minutes. Remove the garlic.
• Drain the pasta and put it back into the pot; add the guanciale and leeks and finish the dish with grated Cacioricotta cheese and the bread crumbs, setting a bit aside. Plate the pasta and complete the garnish with a sprinkling of the bread crumbs and a bit more Cacioricotta cheese.

BUCATINI ALLA GRICIA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of very lightly salted water to a boil. Cook bucatini in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until almost tender yet still pretty firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over low heat. Add guanciale and cook slowly until it has rendered all its fat and is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Drain bucatini and reserve cooking water.
• Transfer bucatini to the skillet with the guanciale and finish cooking the pasta in the pan juices, adding a little pasta water at a time until pasta has the right consistency. Stir in Pecorino Romano cheese and season with black pepper. Serve immediately.