Date Night Pasta Carbonara

This post is sponsored by All-Clad. All text and opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for continuing to support the brands who help make Broma possible!

This year has been a bit crazy to say the least. Between planning our wedding, Alex being in his first year of residency, working on both the blog and Foodtography School, and taking care of a little Tilly, there’s always something to do.

And because we both have so much going on, it’s hard to plan time for just the two of us. But it’s also so important for our (and for any!) relationship. So at least once a week, we celebrate date night. No excuses.

Our date nights are all about eating, whether that means going out to dinner and a movie, or staying in for… dinner and a movie 🙂 Because there’s something so intimate about cooking together, even in a teensy tiny apartment kitchen.

So when All-Clad reached out about partnering together, I knew I had to create a date night recipe. And in testing this recipe over the last few weeks, this Date Night Carbonara has quickly become a favorite on our date night dinner roster.

What’s a date night recipe, you ask?

Oh you know…those ones that are perfectly portioned for two. An ideal date night recipe is simple, yet delicious, giving you more time for loving on your boo. Maybe I’ve just watched Lady and the Tramp too many times, but pasta is one of my favorite romantic meals. Better yet, pasta dishes are pretty easy to make small enough for two stomachs.

What is carbonara?

Pasta carbonara is made with humble ingredients you probably already have in your fridge: pasta, parmesan cheese, eggs, and guanciale (okay you probably don’t have that, but it’s basically fancy bacon). Simply cook your pasta and then toss the hot pasta with a rich combination of eggs, shredded cheese, and bacon. It comes together quickly, but requires a little bit of finesse in the kitchen with a couple of moving pots and pans.

That is why Alex and I are so excited about our new D5 All-Clad Brushed Stainless 10-Piece set. Not only are they beautiful, but they’re some of the highest quality pans I’ve ever cooked in. All-Clad uses alternating layers of aluminum and steel for a durable and even heat from the center all the way to the edges of the pan and a non stick finish so you don’t have to scrape or soak anything, making these my new fav kitchen essential.

So if you’re in the market for a pot and pan set, whether that be for your new house, your wedding registry, or your I’m-an-adult-and-just-because moment, look no further. Oh and possibly the best part? They’re dishwasher safe. I mean, what more could you ask for? I for one am looking forward to using this set for years to come for all different kinds of recipes.

And if you or someone you know is looking for items to add to their registry, definitely check out at All-Clad. Any couple whose registry shows $800 in All-Clad purchased can get a complimentary French skillet engraved with your monogram and wedding date. How cool is that? Learn more about that here.

How to make the best pasta carbonara:

Carbonara is pretty simple to make, but it can get a little hectic in the kitchen when you have three pans going on the stove top at a time. The pouring lips on the All-Clad sauce pans were a serious life saver–especially for us passionate, impatient cooks, eager to eat bucatini carbonara 🙂

We broke it down step by step to take any guess work out, so you can make the perfect restaurant quality date night in.

I hope you and your boo enjoy this dreamy, cheesy bucatini carbonara as much as Alex and I do. Happy date night, lovers!

• Author: Sofi | Broma Bakery
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 20mins
• Yield: 2 large servings
• Category: pasta
• Method: stovetop
• Cuisine: italian

Date Night Pasta Carbonara

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A creamy Roman classic made with bucatini, guanciale, parmigiano, and egg yolks, this Date Night Pasta Carbonara is perfectly portioned for two!

• Author: Sofi | Broma Bakery
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 20mins
• Yield: 2 large servings
• Category: pasta
• Method: stovetop
• Cuisine: italian

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed with skin on
• 1 cup of day-old bread, ripped into pieces
• 1 large egg plus 3 large egg yolks
• 3/4 cup parmigiano reggiano
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 oz guanciale (can also use thick-cut bacon)
• 8 oz bucatini or thick spaghetti
• thyme, for garnish (completely optional)

Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place a small saucepan over medium heat. Add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 cloves of crushed garlic (skins still on). Saute for 1 minute, then add in baguette pieces, tossing to coat. Cook until golden brown, then remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together egg, egg yolks, parmigiano, and black pepper. Set aside.
3. Place 1 quart of water into a large pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, then add in bucatini. Cook until al dente, approximately 8 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water for later on.
4. Meanwhile, dice guanciale into ½ inch thick pieces. Cook in a large saute pan over medium heat until the fat renders out and the pieces are golden brown. Strain out almost all of the rendered fat, leaving the guanciale pieces and 2 tablespoons of the fat in the pan.
5. Once pasta is al dente, use a slotted spoon or tongs to remove pasta from boiling water and place into the guanciale pan. Stir the pasta around to soak up all the drippings.
6. Spoon a few tablespoons of reserved pasta water into the egg mixture, whisking the entire time. Transfer pasta and guanciale into egg bowl, stirring to combine.
7. Transfer everything back into your large saute pan, add in remaining ½ cup of pasta water, and cook over low heat for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly. The pasta will be done once it thickens up and has a creamy consistency!
8. To serve, place on two plates and top with breadcrumbs and thyme. Happy date night!