David Rossi’s Carbonara Recipe (Copycat) (2024)

by Jolina | | | 74 Comments
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Do you watch Criminal Minds? Then you’re in for a treat. This is based on David Rossi’s carbonara recipe!

(Do you love recipes based on books and movies? You will love this Treacle Tart – Harry Potter’s Favourite!)

David Rossi’s Carbonara Recipe (Copycat) (1)

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How do you make traditional carbonara sauce?

Are eggs in carbonara cooked?

Secret to creamy carbonara

David Rossi’s Carbonara Recipe (Copycat)

Remember that episode where Rossi had the team over at his house and taught them how to cook carbonara (how geeky do I sound right now)?

I’ve always wanted to make that and after a significant amount of searching I found a recipe in a French fan page that they claimed was from Joe Mantegna himself (yes, I may have too much time on my hands).

I’ve since tweaked it here and there and it is fabulous! No cream, just eggs, pancetta and lotsa cheese. And guess what else? I cooked it! Not Red, me. (Ok, I may have had some help with chopping, slicing and such.)

It’s practically the only thing I can cook (insert: big proud smile right here). So let’s step into the world of BAU for a moment and bask in the deliciousness that is this carbonara.

How do you make traditional carbonara sauce?

I grew up eating creamy carbonara. And by that I mean carbonara made with cream. I only recently found out that this is very, very wrong.

Traditional carbonara has no drop of cream in it. So what makes it so creamy?

Are eggs in carbonara cooked?

David Rossi’s Carbonara Recipe (Copycat) (2)

Egg yolks (and not cream) are what make traditional carbonara dreamy and creamy.

You guys know I have raw egg issues (check out my Eggless Key Lime Pie and my Eggless Tiramisu) so I can understand your hesitation.

The first few times I made this I ended up scrambling the eggs; I was so eager to pour the eggs into the hot pan and let them sit a little to cook.

What I’ve found is the residual heat from the pasta/pan will cook them so have no fear.

And you shouldn’t let the egg mixture sit at all; you need to quickly toss the pasta so the egg mixture coats everything and doesn’t turn into a scrambled mess.

Secret to creamy carbonara

Also, don’t throw away the pasta water. I did the first time – I know, rookie mistake.

What you want to do is pour about a quarter cup into your pasta, continue mixing until you get the creaminess you want (not too much though, we don’t want it soupy).

Related: Sweet and Salty Filipino-Style Spaghetti

Easy carbonara recipe

David Rossi’s Carbonara Recipe (Copycat) (3)

Once you’ve done that you’ll have this amazing dish that’s so quick to prepare it’s perfect for those busy weeknights. It’s so good too it’s great for when you have company over.

Looking to make a chicken dish? Try this delicious chicken carbonara.

Hope you give it a try, whether you’re a fan of Criminal MindsDavid Rossi’s Carbonara Recipe (Copycat) (4) or not (this past season was weird TBH). It is awesome and hey, if I can cook it you absolutely most definitely can!

(And if you have leftover pancetta, you can make delicious pasta and peas or penne al baffo.)

Happy cooking!

Did you try David Rossi’s carbonara recipe? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.

David Rossi’s Carbonara Recipe (Copycat) (5)

David Rossi’s Carbonara Recipe (Copycat)

Author: Jolina

Are you a Criminal Minds fan? This is based on David Rossi’s carbonara recipe from that episode where he had the team over and gave them cooking lessons!

5 from 7 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 6 people

Calories 515 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb pasta you can use your favourite pasta: spaghetti, fettuccine, linguine or bucatini
  • ½ lb pancetta diced
  • 1 cup chopped onions
  • olive oil for frying
  • ½ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
  • 4 pcs egg yolks from large eggs
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • chopped parsley for serving

Instructions

  • Cook 1 pound pasta until al dente. While that’s cooking, in a large pan on medium heat cook ½ pound diced pancetta and 1 cup chopped onions in olive oil until pancetta is browned and onions are soft.

  • Combine your cheese then pour half of it with your 4 egg yolks. Beat lightly until combined.

  • At this point your pasta and pancetta should be ready. Drain the pasta (reserve some of the pasta water) and transfer into your pan. Remove from heat.

  • Pour your egg mixture into the pan and toss the pasta until coated. Pour about ¼ cup pasta water in your pan and continue tossing until you get the creaminess you want. If you need to put more pasta water, do so a little at a time so your pasta doesn’t get too runny.

  • Add the rest of your cheese and toss some more. Season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve with chopped parsley.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 515kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 20gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 489mgPotassium: 297mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 125IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 211mgIron: 1.3mg

Nutritional information are estimates only.

Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating today!Also tag @iamtheunlikelybaker I’d love to see your creations.

David Rossi’s Carbonara Recipe (Copycat) (2024)

FAQs

David Rossi’s Carbonara Recipe (Copycat)? ›

The golden rule to silky carbonara is to whisk your egg whites so that they're completely incorporated with the egg yolks. This will create a smooth, velvety sauce. As like any pasta dish, including carbonara, cook the pasta perfectly al dente so that it's soft but still firm, with some bite.

What are the biggest carbonara mistakes? ›

15 Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Carbonara
  • Adding your eggs while the pasta is still on the heat. Anton27/Shutterstock. ...
  • Not coating your pasta completely. ...
  • Using bacon instead of guanciale. ...
  • Not whisking your eggs enough. ...
  • Using parmesan instead of pecorino. ...
  • Not grinding your own pepper. ...
  • Using cold eggs. ...
  • Adding extra ingredients.
Mar 5, 2023

What is the golden rule of cooking a carbonara? ›

The golden rule to silky carbonara is to whisk your egg whites so that they're completely incorporated with the egg yolks. This will create a smooth, velvety sauce. As like any pasta dish, including carbonara, cook the pasta perfectly al dente so that it's soft but still firm, with some bite.

Which ingredient should never be used in traditional carbonara? ›

What not to put in Spaghetti Carbonara? Don't put garlic, cream, milk or butter. It is not needed. It is fine if you want to make a dish with those ingredients, but if you want to learn how to make this dish correctly, use only pecorino, eggs/egg yolks, black pepper, guanciale, and pasta water.

How to avoid scrambling eggs in carbonara? ›

Using a large mixing bowl and setting it over the boiling pasta water to create a makeshift double boiler helps prevent you from accidentally scrambling the eggs.

Do you put raw egg in carbonara? ›

What distinguishes carbonara from other pasta dishes is its technique of combining eggs, hard cheese, cured pork, and black pepper into a rich, silky sauce. This recipe calls for raw eggs that are gently cooked by the hot sauce. If you prefer, you can use pasteurized eggs instead.

Why don t Italians use cream in carbonara? ›

Because it tastes better like this, cream cuts and modifies taste for the worse, with cream is simply not a carbonara, menu of a serious restaurant in that case will have to specify “pasta with eggs and cream and guanciale and pecorino”, not carbonara. Do Italians not use cream or milk in pasta sauce?

What does egg do to carbonara? ›

The whites of the egg combine with the starch in the pasta water to add viscosity to the sauce while the yolk adds richness and flavor. Because egg yolks are a powerful emulsifier, they also help bind the fat from the pork to the sauce, creating a smooth, velvety texture without any separation.

How many eggs should I put in my carbonara? ›

I like to use a ratio of 1 whole egg to 3 egg yolks because it balances the richness. If you are looking to avoid using raw eggs, I would recommend making my Cacio e Pepe recipe – this is another one of the four classic Roman pastas but requires only three ingredients (cheese, pepper, and pasta).

Do Italians put cream in pasta carbonara? ›

Should carbonara have cream? Typically carbonara sauce is only made of eggs, bacon, parmesan, olive oil, seasoning, and sometimes, vegetables. As for cream, Italians will tell you that is a big no no.

Does carbonara use whole eggs or just yolks? ›

It's higher in fat, which gives a velvety texture and richer flavor to the carbonara. I'd rather not go overboard on the richness, so I'll use whole eggs, and typically I'll add an extra yolk to the pan. If guanciale is not available, I'll use pancetta.

Why is garlic not allowed in carbonara? ›

Why is adding garlic to carbonara seen as a huge no-no in Italy or by Italians? - Quora. Because carbonara is a codified recipe and its ingredients are guanciale, black pepper, egg yolks, grated pecorino (or a mixture of pecorino and Parmigiano Reggiano). That's all.

Have Italians been cooking carbonara wrong? ›

Italians have reacted with fury after being told they have been cooking spaghetti carbonara wrong for the last 70 years. Luca Cesari, a leading food historian, found what he believes is the first recipe for the dish, published in an Italian cookery magazine called La Cucina Italiana in 1954.

What type of meat is best in carbonara? ›

Guanciale is the most commonly used meat for the dish in Italy, but pancetta and pancetta affumicata are also used and, in English-speaking countries, bacon is often used as a substitute. The usual cheese is pecorino romano; occasionally Parmesan, Grana Padano, or a combination of hard cheeses are used.

Is it easy to mess up carbonara? ›

Pay attention to the quality and cooking of the pasta: making a mistake can ruin the entire final result. Pouring the egg on the pasta with the flame on under the pan is one of the most terrible mistakes you can make while preparing this dish.

What happens if you overcook carbonara? ›

What happens if you overcook carbonara? The pasta will break apart and get soggy but more importantly the egg yolks will get scrambled and make the sauce grainy – it wont have that velvet smooth, luscious, creamy pasta sauce.

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