This recipe is aligned with the classic Italian way to make carbonara… except for the peas.  I’ve added peas- which is not what you see in Italy.  Regardless, my entire family didn’t have any trouble scraping up every last bit of this pasta- probably because I made sure there was plenty of crispy pancetta included.

Italian Vacation:

I was recently in Italy on an Insight Vacations Luxury Gold tour.  It was an incredible trip… filled with endless amounts of Italian food and fine wine, visits to ancient historical locations and quaint towns, luxury hotel accommodations, meeting new friends and a ton of laughter.  It truly was the trip of a lifetime.  Being on a tour was really nice– I find that I see a lot more than I would if I were just going it alone. Insight makes the trip so much fun, and you’re given plenty of time to explore on your own.  I have shared more about my trip to Italy in my travel section. 

One of our stops on the trip was in Florence.  This is a view from the Uffizi Gallery looking out toward the Arno River.

I sampled carbonara in Florence (no peas)…

… and again in Venice.  Clearly, I’m enamored with carbonara– always have been!  It was one of the first things I made for my family when I returned from my trip.  My husband and I have always adored Amarone, so I ordered a bottle (and a second) to enjoy with our group dinner.  My teenager told me I look tired in this photo.  I didn’t tell him it was probably the wine 🙂

Venice was GORGEOUS.  Traveling through the canals on a gondola was truly enjoyable.  I loved gazing at the rustic buildings, restaurants, hotels and residences lining the canals.  The gondola sailing behind us had a guitarist who was serenading the whole scene.  It was your typical dreamy Venezian experience.

Classic Spaghetti Carbonara:

Back to the task at hand here– the Spaghetti Carbonara… you must try it.  If you order carbonara in the US, you’re likely to get a cream-filled, butter-laden pasta dish.  A classic Italian carbonara doesn’t have any cream or butter in it. I’m sharing the classic sort of recipe.  My husband took two bites and excitedly said, “Honey- you can put this dish in the regular rotation!” Three thumbs up from my family on my recipe for carbonara. I hope you like it too- enjoy!

Here are a few more Italian pasta recipes you might like to try:

Baked Penne with Italian Sausage Rigatoni in Vodka Sauce Baked Pasta Italian Sausage Bow Tie Pasta Pasta with Garden Bolognese Sauce Lasagna Roll Ups Chicken Pasta Primavera Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Manicotti