STEP 1 - Crack the eggs into your bowl, then add one pinch of salt and pepper for each egg. (If using standard American bacon, leave out the salt - the meat is usually plenty salty enough.)
- Use a fork (or whisk) and whisk until fully mixed and smooth.
STEP 2 - Grate the parmesan.
Put a tablespoon aside for serving later, then mix the rest into the bowl of eggy mixture.
STEP 3 - Cover half the base of your frying pan with olive oil. Pop on a medium heat hob.
- When the oil is hot (not spitting or smoking – that’s too hot!), add the bacon. Fry until softened and slightly brown (approx. 5-7 mins).
- Take the pan off the heat.
That’s it!
You now have the main elements of carbonara sauce.
All that’s left is…
1. Boil up and drain roughly 240g/8.5oz of spaghetti (or any other long pasta).
2. Pop the bacon pan back on the heat for a minute and mix in the pasta, coating it thoroughly in the oil.
3. Finally, take the full pan off the heat again, and mix in the eggy sauce. (We use off the heat so we don't 'cook' the egg.)