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Pasta Carbonara

Pasta Carbonara featuring Gunns Hill Artisan Cheese

Pasta:

450g Spaghetti, boiled for 7 minutes. Drain and keep pasta water for use.

Carbonara:

  • 400g bacon or pancetta, cubed and pan fried and set aside
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 4 egg yorks
  • 50g Five Brothers cheese grated
  • 100g Handeck cheese grated
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
  • 1 tbsp Grated Parm to serve
  • 2 tbsp Pasta water
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Steps:

Step 1: Prep the Egg-Cheese Mixture In a medium bowl, whisk together: 2 whole eggs + 4 yolks Grated Five Brothers and Handeck cheeses A pinch of salt and a generous grind of black pepper Set aside. This will be your creamy carbonara sauce base (no cream needed).

Step 2: Cook the Bacon/Pancetta Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add the cubed bacon or pancetta. Fry until crispy and golden (about 5–7 minutes). Remove from pan and set aside on a paper towel to drain excess fat. Leave about 1 tbsp of bacon fat in the pan.

Step 3: Sauté Garlic Add 1 tbsp olive oil to the pan with the reserved bacon fat. Toss in the minced garlic, and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant — do not brown.

Step 4: Combine Pasta & Bacon Add the drained spaghetti to the pan with garlic. Toss to coat in the garlic oil. Stir in the crispy bacon/pancetta pieces. Remove the pan from heat (this is key to avoid scrambling the eggs in the next step).

Step 5: Add the Egg-Cheese Mixture Quickly pour the egg and cheese mixture over the pasta. Immediately toss everything together thoroughly. The residual heat will gently cook the eggs and melt the cheese into a silky sauce.

Step 6: Adjust with Pasta Water Add about 2 tbsp of reserved pasta water. Toss again until the sauce reaches a creamy, glossy consistency. Add more pasta water if needed.

Step 7: Final Touches Stir in chopped parsley. Taste and adjust with more salt and pepper if needed.

Step 8: Plate the pasta and sprinkle with grated Parmesan on top. Add extra parsley or black pepper if desired.

Recipe created by Chef Jed Lau, owner of It's All About You Catering. It's All About You Catering is also known as East Meets West Catgering, based in Woodstock. Follow his Facebook for updates on where to purchase or how to book catering.