Description
Homemade spaghetti carbonara delights diners with its rich Roman heritage and simple ingredients. Pasta lovers will savor creamy eggs, crisp pancetta, and sharp pecorino cheese blended in this authentic Italian classic.
Ingredients
Scale
- 600 grams (21.2 oz) cherry tomatoes
- 300–500 grams (10.5–17.6 oz) spaghetti
- 100 milliliters (3.4 fl oz) olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 handful fresh basil leaves
- 1 pinch salt (for boiling and seasoning)
- 0.5 tsps freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp sugar (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Boiling Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a vigorous boil over high heat, creating the perfect environment for cooking spaghetti.
- Pasta Cooking: Immerse spaghetti into the bubbling water, stirring intermittently to prevent clumping, and cook until achieving a tender al dente consistency, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Sauce Foundation: Warm extra-virgin olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium heat, then introduce minced garlic, allowing it to release its aromatic essence and develop a delicate golden hue.
- Tomato Transformation: Incorporate halved cherry tomatoes into the skillet, seasoning with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a whisper of red pepper flakes to elevate the flavor profile.
- Sauce Development: Gently crush the tomatoes to release their natural juices, creating a light, vibrant sauce while cooking for 3-4 minutes.
- Pasta Integration: Rescue a portion of pasta water before draining spaghetti, then transfer the noodles directly into the skillet, tossing thoroughly to enrobe each strand with the luscious tomato mixture.
- Final Touches: Scatter torn fresh basil leaves into the skillet, immediately removing from heat, and if needed, introduce reserved pasta water to achieve a silky, glossy coating that clings to the pasta.
- Serving: Plate the spaghetti promptly, crowning it with a generous dusting of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and an additional garnish of basil leaves for a burst of fresh flavor.
Notes
- Prevent Pasta Sticking: Stir spaghetti occasionally during cooking to ensure noodles don’t clump together or form a sticky mass.
- Pasta Water Magic: Save some starchy cooking water before draining, which helps create a smooth, clingy sauce and adds depth to the dish.
- Garlic Timing Matters: Sauté garlic quickly to release aromatic flavors without burning, which can make the sauce bitter and unpleasant.
- Tomato Technique: Gently press cherry tomatoes while cooking to release natural juices, creating a light, fresh sauce that coats the pasta beautifully.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg