Spaghetti alla Carbonara

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Posted on March 25, 2014
This Delia classic has stood me in good stead since for many years. It's quick and easy to make, is good with ham or garlic as optional extras, and is especially delicious with some toasted breadcrumbs and chopped fresh parsley sprinkled on top. Is also fairly healthy and contains (somewhat surprisingly) no cream, cheese or butter.

Ingredients

  • Spaghetti
  • Olive Oil
  • Cooked Ham (optional)
  • Garlic (optional)
  • 2 Eggs and 1 extra Yolk (Free Range)
  • Salt & Pepper

Bring a large pan of salted Water to the boil

Cook the (300g ish) Spaghetti according to its instructions

Meanwhile, gently beat 2 whole Free Range Eggs and an extra Yolk together

Finely chop some cooked Ham or Gammon (or you could use very thin Parma, or omit the Ham completely?!).  Fry the chopped Ham quickly in a little Olive Oil (with a chopped clove of Garlic if you fancy it) and then set aside

Drain the Pasta as soon as it is cooked and re-add to the pan.  Add the Ham, the beaten Eggs, a pinch of Salt and a big crunch of Black Pepper.  Stir immediately – you’ll see the Eggs cooking, they’ll go very slightly grainy (which is good!)

Serve sprinkled with some Garlicky Breadcrumbs and a Tomato Salad

[To make Garlicky Breadcrumbs – whizz a slice or two of  (preferably homebaked) Bread up with a clove of Garlic until it is the consistency of  fine crumbs.  Gently fry in a pan with no oil until they’re golden brown… These will be delicious on top of all kind of pasta dishes and also soups]

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