Carbonara

This carbonara is the best I have ever had!  So perfectly creamy and rich with flavor.  It is a Barbara Lynch recipe that I found in a recent Bon Appetit.  Serve it immediately after all of the ingredients are mixed in for the creamiest texture.  It wasn't quite the same after re-warming.  I used proscuitto because I couldn't find guanciale. 

Ingredients

• 1/4 pound guanciale (salt-cured pork jowl) or pancetta, cut into 1/3-inch cubes
• 7 large egg yolks
• 1 large egg
• 1 pound rigatoni
• Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup finely grated Pecorino or Parmesan plus more for garnish
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground green peppercorns
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pink pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
• Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Put guanciale in a large skillet and place over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until fat renders but guanciale is not browned, about 5 minutes. Pour into a fine-mesh sieve set over a small bowl; reserve drippings. Transfer guanciale to a large bowl and let cool slightly. Add egg yolks and egg to bowl; whisk to blend.

 

Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid.

To egg mixture, immediately add rigatoni, 2 Tbsp. pasta cooking liquid, and 1 tsp. guanciale drippings; toss to coat. Working in 3 batches, gradually add Pecorino, stirring and tossing to melt between batches. Add green, pink, and white pepper (or 1 1/2–2 tsp. black pepper); toss until sauce thickens, adding more pasta water by tablespoonfuls if needed. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

Divide among bowls. Garnish with Pecorino.