You will not believe the rich flavor of this delicious pasta dish until you taste it.
Yesterday, my dear client, Jillian, who lives practically next door, called and said, “Rhonda, what’s that yummy dish called that you fixed us last week… you mentioned something like ‘pasta with holes in it’… Oh, it was so, so good.”
I thought about this confusing clue as I flipped through the Rolodex of meals I fixed for her, little Harper, the wee twins, and her hubby, Ferf. It didn’t take me long to figure out that she must mean this Bucatini Pasta. See, bucatini pasta, as I had explained to Jillian, is unique in that unlike regular spaghetti, it has a hole running all the way down the pasta strand, helping it reach this delicious state of al dente-ness, if there is such a word, that is positively sublime.
All my clients had been having trouble remembering the name of this delicious dish, which they all wanted again the minute I delivered it.
“You mean that Bucatini Pasta dish with all that yummy fried bacon in it, right?” “Right!” she said, “Big hit!! More, please!! And could you make it tonight, please—we have nothing and the twins and…. Well, you know…. I’m so tired. And Harper loves that pasta.”
“I’ll be over by 7:00… never fear, dinner is near.”
My plan, however, was short-lived because five minutes later, my walkie-talkie issued a huge squawk: “Wonna, you there? Over and out!”
“Yes, Ms. Harper! What’s up? I just talked to your momma!”
“Can you have my dinner done so I can eat it and watch Sponge Bob? Paw Patrol comes on next, and I want to watch Paw Patrol and eat my dessert.”
I quickly pulled up Nickelodeon’s schedule.
“Aye, Aye, Captain Harper. I will be across the street and to you by 5:56 p.m. with special Paw Patrol treats. Over and out, Rover!”
Insert peals of laughter as I turned that thing o, f, f, off.
The meal I fixed for them, including a version of Paw Patrol Cupcakes, is detailed below.
Why Bucatini Carbonara Will Fast Become Your New Favorite Carbonara
Many people think carbonara is some really challenging pasta dish. It’s not. Believe me, that’s a total myth.
And with aboutamom.com’s easy-to-follow instructions, you can make the best carbonara you’ve ever tasted, all fast and easy-like.
And you’ll stun your family with this authentic, delicious recipe that uses pancetta, a kind of milder, less smoky-flavored “Italian bacon.” When crisped, it brings a ton of sweet, salty pork flavor to this dish that has this luscious cream sauce made from eggs, egg yolks, two kinds of cheese, and an essential grind of black pepper.
The delicious aromas of its cooking alone will make everyone ravenous. By the time you plate it, expect everyone to be sitting down with napkins tucked firmly under their chins with their hands folded in their laps, behaving in this serene, almost angelic way that you’ll want to video just to prove it to people.
How to Make Ahead and Store?
Keep this at most two more days after service in an airtight container with a little olive oil thrown in to keep the pasta moist. I don’t recommend freezing this because the textures will be different when it thaws. To reheat, microwave in 30 second bursts until hot.
Serving Suggestions
Since Bucatini Carbonara has just that right hint of meat in it, that means we can get all kinds of decadent with meatier, more satisfying sides that help create a filling meal. First, a hearty, colorful salad like this Bacon Ranch Layered Salad helps play bacon flavors on bacon flavors and really complements that pasta. In case anyone, like, ahem, Ferf, was feeling especially hungry, I whipped up a side of these Pizza Stuffed Zucchini Boats, which he loves, and a hard-working man like him needs FOOD.
Then, I toasted some baguettes in the oven that had been slathered in this yummy spread of whipped butter, garlic salt, parsley, salt, and pepper, which also played off the flavors in that peppered pasta dish. Bread is essential with a creamy sauced pasta like this. Everyone loves to rake their bread through the sauce and slather it with bits of pancetta to create the perfect bite. For Ms. Harper’s dessert—and she was thrilled—I got screams and hugs and giggles of delight for these Paw Patrol Cupcakes.
Bucatini Carbonara
Ingredients
- Kosher salt
- 8 ounces bucatini pasta
- 4 ounces pancetta diced
- 2 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt and the bucatini. Cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, Pecorino Romano, and Parmesan cheese. Season with black pepper.
- Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Add the hot pasta to the skillet with the pancetta. Pour the egg and cheese mixture over the pasta.
- Toss the pasta quickly to coat with the sauce, using the reserved pasta water to adjust the consistency if necessary. The heat from the pasta will cook the eggs gently to create a creamy sauce.
- Serve immediately with additional grated cheese and a sprinkle of black pepper.
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