Cheater Carbonara Recipes

THE BEST CARBONARA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
• Whisk together the eggs, yolks, Parmesan, Pecorino, pepper and butter if using in a large bowl until well combined.
• Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta.
• Meanwhile, cook the pancetta in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Add the spaghetti and half the reserved pasta cooking water to the skillet and toss to combine.
• Add the egg mixture and toss to coat. Cook, tossing continuously to avoid scrambling the eggs, until the sauce is creamy, thinning it with the remaining pasta water if it becomes too thick (it should be saucy but not watery), about 1 minute.
• Divide the pasta among plates and sprinkle with more grated Parmesan.

CHEATER CARBONARA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook linguine at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes, adding peas in the last minute of cooking. Drain and keep warm in a bowl.
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels, reserving 1 tablespoon of drippings in the skillet.
• Add garlic to the skillet; saute for 1 minute. Reduce heat to low and stir in milk and cream cheese until blended.
• Crumble bacon and add to the linguine along with sauce and Parmesan cheese; stir to coat.

RAMEN CARBONARA

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Add onion to bacon drippings in skillet; cook until tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook ramen in a saucepan according to package directions, adding peas the last minute of cooking. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water; drain.
• Whisk together egg, Parmesan, onion and drippings, salt, and red pepper in a bowl. Add hot ramen and cooked bacon. Toss to coat, adding enough reserved cooking water to make a creamy consistency. Top servings with parsley.

CHICKEN-BACON CARBONARA

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned but not crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels, then transfer to a bowl.
• Add onion to the drippings and saute over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute until onion is tender, 3 to 4 minutes more. Pour in wine and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until wine evaporates. Add mixture to the bacon.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook bow-tie pasta at a boil, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 to 11 minutes.
• Meanwhile, coat chicken in just enough oil to moisten. Place in the same skillet that was used for the bacon. Heat over medium heat and cook, sprinkling chicken with 1/2 of the basil, a pinch of nutmeg, and pepper, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn chicken and repeat seasoning on the other side. Continue to cook until no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, 5 to 7 minutes more. Stir bacon mixture into the chicken and keep warm until pasta is done.
• Combine eggs, cream, Parmesan cheese, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg in a jar or shaker. Cover and shake until well combined.
• Drain pasta and set aside in a bowl.
• Dump chicken mixture and all drippings into the pasta pot, away from the heat. Add pasta and toss well. All at once, pour egg mixture into the pot, tossing quickly and thoroughly to cook, but not curdle. Serve hot.