Hello! Looking to get some feedback here – this is my first attempt at making carbonara, and Iโd like to get better at it.
Iโm making it for one, so Iโve had a little bit of difficulty scaling down recipes Iโve read.
I used maybe 3oz of bucatini, 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk, probably 1.5oz of pecorino romano, black pepper, and panchetta (I cannot find guanciale anywhere near me).
I added the bucatini (al dente) with some salted pasta water to the grease from the pancetta after removing the pancetta. After it started to look somewhat creamier, I added that to my mixing bowl (with the eggs/cheese whisked) and placed the bowl above the pasta water and mixed until I thought the consistency looked right. I thought this might help me control the temperature better.
How would you improve this based on how it looks? I feel like maybe I made it too thick, but it did taste great. Presentation is obviously pretty bad here. Pancetta is a big mistake from what I understand, but that was outside of my control.
by opesorrygeeze
12 Comments
Yum ๐
Looks like the cheese clumped up a bit. Adding a bit of rendered fat and pasta water to egg yolk / cheese mix might help with that. Also you can remove pasta from pot few min ealier and then finish cooking risotto style in pan which also facilitates emulsion bc you’re base sauce contains more starch.
As first attempt looks way better than we usually see around here, be proud of yourself. You’ve already got some good advice for the lumpiness, you should work on the plating process. Get a big ladle and fork, scoop pasta in then pan with the ladle and roll it with the fork, then move to the plate and drop the roll, done.
For a first carbonara attempt this is honestly solid. The sauce looks creamy and you didnโt scramble the eggs, which is where most people trip. If you want it silkier, you can loosen it with a splash of pasta water while tossing off heat. Other than that, great start.
You made it it look delicious
damn nice work!
Crank up the pepper!
Congrats. Looks better than my first carbonara. Itโs very simple dish but requires lots of practice.
This meal should be served in heaven cause tell me why it looks so heavenly
I speak as a chef and it’s not bad for a first attempt.
Thank you all for the comments and advice! I am very encouraged to try again.
Itโs getting there !