Carbonara

Carbonara is a dish that originates from Rome, Italy. The dish is made with pancetta, eggs, and Parmesan cheese. The dish is usually served with spaghetti.

The dish is named after the Italian word for coal, which is “carbonaro”. It is said that the dish was created during World War II, when Italian charcoal workers would make the dish for themselves using the ingredients that they had on hand.

The dish became popular in the United States in the 1950s, when Italian immigrants began to open restaurants in cities across the country. Today, carbonara is enjoyed by people all over the world.

Advice

When making carbonara, it is important to use the freshest ingredients possible. Start by getting good quality pancetta or bacon, fresh eggs, and high-quality Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. It is also important to cook the pasta just right, ensuring it is al dente. Once the pasta has cooked, be sure to reserve some of the starchy cooking water to help create a creamy sauce. Finally, cook the bacon or pancetta until it is crisp and add it to the pasta. This helps to give the dish more flavor and texture.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Ramen Carbonara

  • RAMEN
  • salt
  • parmesan cheese
  • water
  • ramen noodle
  • egg
  • butter
  • bacon
  • OPTIONAL FRIED EGGS
  • egg
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Chicken Carbonara

  • black pepper
  • parmesan cheese
  • spaghetti
  • lemon peel
  • walnut
  • basil
  • italian parsley
  • garlic
  • olive oil
  • whipping cream
  • chicken
  • pancetta
  • egg yolk
  • salt
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Simple Carbonara

  • black pepper
  • spaghetti
  • parmesan cheese
  • olive oil
  • egg
  • salt
  • guanciale
  • egg yolk
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Smoky Tomato Carbonara

  • salt
  • spaghetti
  • parmesan cheese
  • tomato paste
  • eggs large egg yolk
  • smoked bacon
  • cherry tomato
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Mushroom Carbonara

  • salt
  • parsley
  • egg
  • orecchiette
  • black pepper
  • crimini
  • olive oil
  • shallot
  • pre parmesan
  • egg yolk
  • garlic
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Breakfast Carbonara

  • orange zest
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • parsley
  • bread crumb
  • olive oil
  • green onion
  • pecorino romano cheese
  • egg
  • breakfast sausage
  • linguine
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Bucatini Carbonara

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • pancetta
  • parmesan cheese
  • pecorino romano cheese
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • eggs large egg yolk
  • bucatini pasta
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Tuna Carbonara

  • tuna
  • spaghetti
  • parmesan cheese
  • onion
  • olive oil
  • bell pepper
  • parsley
  • butter
  • garlic
  • heavy cream
  • egg
  • bacon
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Bobby Flay's Macaroni and Cheese Carbonara

  • salt
  • butter
  • fontina cheese
  • elbow macaroni
  • olive oil
  • pancetta
  • american cheddar
  • irish white cheddar
  • parsley
  • parmesan cheese
  • cayenne pepper
  • asiago cheese
  • thyme
  • all purpose flour
  • garlic
  • egg yolk
  • milk
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Vegetarian Carbonara

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • asparagus
  • fettuccine
  • olive oil
  • egg yolk
  • pre vegetarian parmesan
  • smoked paprika
  • garlic
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Classic Carbonara

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • spaghetti
  • pecorino romano cheese
  • grana padano cheese
  • guanciale
  • egg yolk
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Carbonara with Crab

  • thyme
  • celery top
  • club soda
  • negroni
  • salt
  • togarashi
  • lump dungeness
  • spaghetti
  • lemon twist
  • orange wedge
  • shallot
  • lemon
  • celery
  • campari
  • gin
  • sherry
  • meaty pancetta
  • angostura bitter
  • green onion
  • red vermouth
  • parmesan cheese
  • pecorino romano cheese
  • garlic
  • egg
  • olive oil
  • ice
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Classic Carbonara

  • spice mill
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • black peppercorn
  • egg
  • parmesan cheese
  • pecorino romano cheese
  • guanciale
  • egg yolk
  • rigatoni
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Carbonara

  • grana grattugiato parmigiano
  • guanciale pancetta
  • olio oliva
  • pecorino romano cheese
  • pepe
  • sale fino
  • spaghetti
  • tuorli
  • uova tere
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Brussels Sprouts Pizza Carbonara

  • olive oil
  • salt
  • ricotta cheese
  • milk
  • italian parmesan cheese
  • italian pecorino cheese
  • brussels sprout
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • egg yolk
  • balls pizza dough
  • pancetta
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Chicken Carbonara

  • green pea
  • olive oil
  • bertolli alfredo sauce
  • bacon
  • onion
  • white wine
  • chicken breast
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Chicken Carbonara

  • garlic
  • shallot
  • chicken breast
  • pasta
  • parmesan cheese
  • black pepper
  • parsley
  • egg
  • bacon
  • salt
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Pasta Carbonara

  • pecorino romano cheese
  • rigatoni
  • egg
  • red pepper
  • egg yolk
  • guanciale
  • pepper
  • salt
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Mushroom Carbonara

  • mushroom
  • salt
  • spaghetti
  • pecorino romano cheese
  • egg yolk
  • butter
  • garlic
  • black pepper
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Carbonara

  • salt
  • olive oil
  • bucatini
  • black pepper
  • pecorino romano cheese
  • mascarpone cheese
  • egg
  • guanciale
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Pasta Carbonara

  • salt
  • pecorino romano cheese
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • spaghetti
  • olive oil
  • guanciale
  • egg yolk
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Carbonara With Rabbit

  • olive oil
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • chervil
  • linguine
  • egg yolk
  • lemon
  • orange
  • rabbit
  • grana padano cheese
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Chicken Carbonara

  • spaghetti
  • parmesan cheese
  • chicken breast
  • bacon
  • egg yolk
  • black pepper
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Pasta Carbonara

  • parmesan cheese
  • fettuccine
  • parsley
  • bacon
  • butter
  • whipping cream
  • egg
  • pepper
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Chicken Carbonara

  • spaghetti pasta
  • bacon
  • salt
  • pecorino romano cheese
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • parsley
  • chicken breast
  • egg
  • egg yolk
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Keto Carbonara

  • black pepper
  • heavy cream
  • parmesan cheese
  • egg yolk
  • palmini
  • bacon
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Seafood Carbonara

  • parsley
  • olive oil
  • clam
  • mussel
  • egg yolk
  • egg
  • garlic
  • grana padano dop cheese
  • white wine
  • cream
  • calamari

Ingredient Breakdown

 
salt
egg
parmesan cheese
olive oil
egg yolk
garlic
black pepper
bacon
spaghetti
pecorino romano cheese
parsley
pancetta
butter
heavy cream
pepper
red pepper flake
guanciale
basil
thyme
onion
pasta
chicken breast
milk
shallot
zucchini
pea
italian parsley
linguine
prosciutto
fettuccine
grana padano cheese
bucatini
cream
asparagus
water
whipping cream
sage
spinach
lemon juice
eggs large egg yolk
cherry tomato
green onion
bucatini pasta
lemon zest
penne pasta
all purpose flour
spaghetti pasta
lemon
rigatoni
avocado
brussels sprout
white wine
spinach fettuccine
mushroom
chervil
english pea
ramen noodle
lemon peel
walnut
chicken
kabocha
fettucine
chicken broth
smoked provolone
tomato paste
smoked bacon
orecchiette
crimini
pre parmesan
orange zest
bread crumb
breakfast sausage
herb
burrata cheese
pecorino cheese
burrata
chili flake
zucchini flower
range
green
tuna
bell pepper
fontina cheese
elbow macaroni
american cheddar
irish white cheddar
cayenne pepper
asiago cheese
pre vegetarian parmesan
smoked paprika
celery top
club soda
negroni
togarashi
lump dungeness
lemon twist
orange wedge
celery
campari
gin
sherry
meaty pancetta
angostura bitter
red vermouth
ice
spice mill
black peppercorn
salmon
chive
fava bean
de cecco spaghetti
winter squash
honey
pomegranate juice
pomegranate aril
grana grattugiato parmigiano
guanciale pancetta
olio oliva
pepe
sale fino
tuorli
uova tere
ricotta cheese
italian parmesan cheese
italian pecorino cheese
balls pizza dough
spaghetti noodle
green pea
bertolli alfredo sauce
cheddar cheese
spaghetti squash
white miso paste
feta
ears corn
sweet potato
almond
vegetable oil
delicata squash
pasta bucatini
broccoli rabe
nutmeg
butternut squash
red pepper
meatball
italian seasoning
american cheese
raman
egg large yolk
yellow pepper
spring onion
leek
rice linguine
mascarpone cheese
orange
rabbit
strozzapreti
salty hard cheese
radish
manchego cheese
spanish chorizo
palmini
spatzle pasta
squash
smoked pancetta
clam
mussel
grana padano dop cheese
calamari

Insights

Staple Ingredients

  • salt 56%
  • olive oil 36%
  • egg 33%
  • parmesan cheese 33%

Common Ingredients

  • egg yolk 26%
  • garlic 26%
  • black pepper 22%
  • spaghetti 22%
  • pecorino romano cheese 20%

Usual Ingredients

  • bacon 18%
  • pancetta 15%
  • parsley 13%
  • butter 9%
  • heavy cream 9%
  • guanciale 8%
  • pepper 8%
  • red pepper flake 8%
  • basil 7%
  • onion 6%
  • pasta 6%
  • thyme 6%