Some people believe that you have to make or buy a white sauce for a carbonara or alfredo. While this is a good idea in a restaurant setting because it makes the process quick and easy when you are busy, it’s not necessary at home.
All you need are a few ingredients and you can have a pasta dinner ready in about 20 minutes.
Here’s what you’ll need for 4 people:
- One 500g package of spaghetti – cooked al dente
- 4 slices of bacon or pancetta – cubed and fried
- Two cloves of garlic – minced
- Heavy cream
- parmesan
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 tsp of red pepper flakes
- One tsp of dried oregano
Directions:
In a medium to large size pot, bring 8 cups of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until it is al dente. This should only take around 10-12 minutes. Drain, rinse, and let it sit for a few minutes in the colander to drain some more.
While the spaghetti is cooking, fry up your bacon or pancetta in a large frying pan. You can remove the bacon from the frying pan but it’s not necessary unless you fried up the bacon whole and you need to chop it up. However, do not throw out the bacon fat. You’re going to need it.
In the same frying pan that you cooked the bacon in, add your garlic and let it cook for a few seconds. Then add the cooked spaghetti. Let this fry in the pan with the bacon fat and garlic for about 5 minutes. While it is frying, add the spices and bacon. Stir occasionally to get the spaghetti well coated.
After the spaghetti has been frying for about 5 minutes, add the cream. You want to add just enough cream so that you can see it coming up around the spaghetti. My guess is you’ll need approximately 500 ml.
When the cream starts to boil, add a good handful of parmesan cheese or about 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup.
Give it a good stir! And serve immediately! Have it with a salad too.
Goes well with Pinot Grigio!
Remember to cook with love in your heart – the food will taste better ❤️
If you try this recipe and want to share please put your comments in the section below. Thanks!
Tag Team Cooking 