1. Boil a large pot of lightly salted water and cook the spaghetti until al dente, according to package instructions. Save about 1 cup of pasta water before draining the spaghetti.
   
2. While the pasta cooks, whisk together the eggs, cheese and a generous pinch of black pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
   
3. In a large pan, cook the pancetta or bacon over medium heat until it becomes crispy. 
   
4. Drain the pasta and immediately toss it in the pan with the crispy meat. Turn off the heat then pour the egg and cheese mixture over the hot pasta and quickly toss everything together. The residual heat will cook the eggs, forming a creamy sauce. 
   

To serve, top with cracked black pepper and grated cheese, and serve hot.

Tip

If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water to loosen it.

What is carbonara?

Carbonara is a creamy pasta dish made with cheese and eggs, with bacon or cured pork.

What is carbonara made from?

Some NZ or English versions add cream or milk, but traditional Italian-style carbonara is made simply with cheese and eggs. 

You can buy pre-made carbonara sauce in the supermarket. 

Variations include adding mushrooms, leeks, onion, garlic or green vegetables like peas or broccoli. You can also use  different types of pasta like penne or fettuccine.