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Original poster

Please tell me how to make a creamy UK style Carbanara

46 replies

Fraom · 29/10/2025 11:05

8 months pregnant. Have been eating VERY well due to an elevated risk of diabetes (sisters and mum all had it). But I’ve decided one fuck it meal will do no harm.

Please can you tell me how to make a UK-style carbonara which is a bit creamier and less sharp. Something like you would get at Prezzo or Zizzi’s. I tried making one last night and it was far too authentic so it ended up as DH’s lunch today.

Desperate to make one! I’m bored and it will give me something to do.

Thanks a lot!

OP posts:
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WhatWouldRoyKentSay · 29/10/2025 22:36

I do this super easy Jamie Oliver one all the time. It uses fresh lasagna sheets cut lengthways and tastes differnt every time depending on how much I use of each ingredient.

www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pasta/mushroom-carbonara/

VoodooQualities · 29/10/2025 22:30

Mmm carbonara, I love it. I wish I could buy guanciale locally, but it's still ace with just streaky bacon or lardons plus lots of black pepper.

Make sure whatever bacon you go for, it hasn't had water added to it like a lot of UK bacon has had. You want it to fry nicely, not sweat and sit in water in the pan.

FatalCattraction · 29/10/2025 22:27

I’d make a cream rich béchamel, add an egg to it at the end and crispy fried bacon. Lots of Parmesan on serving, job done.

GCAcademic · 29/10/2025 22:23

monkeysox · 29/10/2025 12:55

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ultimate-spaghetti-carbonara-recipe

Just had this tonight. It’s the best one.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 29/10/2025 22:20

I don’t know about ‘need to’!

Peaceshout · 29/10/2025 22:19

You need to serve it with a massive salad.

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 29/10/2025 22:18

I'd fry some pancetta or guanciale until crisp, with some garlic but don't let the garlic burn. Add lots of cream, then the parmesan. Put your pasta into a wide bowl and pour over the sauce and toss. Just before eating, tip one egg yolk onto your pasta and mix it all through really well in the bowl you are going to eat from.

NamelessNancy · 29/10/2025 22:09

monkeysox · 29/10/2025 12:55

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ultimate-spaghetti-carbonara-recipe

Can vouch for this recipe. Delicious and really quick and easy to make.

MrsLizzieDarcy · 29/10/2025 22:03

I make a very cheat version for the grandkids - fry pancetta with a finely chopped onion in butter and olive oil until golden, then take off high heat and stir through a tub of philadelphia (has to be the full fat one) and a bag of pre grated cheddar/mozzarella mix. Then add some black pepper, stir in a cooked pan of pasta and bingo. Kids will eat a mountain of it, it's rich and creamy and about as inauthentic as it gets.

GarlicBreadStan · 29/10/2025 21:57

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 29/10/2025 13:01

If my grandmother had wheels she would have been a bike.

That was the exact thought I had too 😂

buffyreboot · 29/10/2025 17:11

MzHz · 29/10/2025 15:32

There are a gazillion recipes on the internet

all of the BS ones with cream and milk or whatever in them - urgh.

no Other explanation? 😂

the ingredients are bacon or pancetta, eggs, Parmesan and garlic.

it’s ridiculously simple and soooo worth doing it properly

Show quote history

100% and that’s what I would call carbonara but OP wants something creamier and less Parmesan tasting which is why I said cream
sometimes I want creamy cheese pasta and sometimes carbonara!

mamagogo1 · 29/10/2025 16:52

I pan fry pancetta and finely chopped onion, boil pasta and drain,mix 1-2 egg yolks plus knob butter over the hot cooked pasta, add grated cheese (I use provolone) and stir until all melted, add creme fraiche to your desired consistency, black pepper, the pancetta and onion mix and chopped parsley. It’s really easy

Goldengirl123 · 29/10/2025 16:47

You don’t need to add cream. Use eggs

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 29/10/2025 15:38

I always use the Felicity Cloake recipe. There’s no cream, but you need an extra egg yolk.
I use 2 whole eggs, as well.
Always goes down a treat.

MzHz · 29/10/2025 15:32

roses2 · 29/10/2025 11:15

I’m pretty sure restaurants add cream for that creamy taste. There is no other explanation or secret.

There are a gazillion recipes on the internet

all of the BS ones with cream and milk or whatever in them - urgh.

no Other explanation? 😂

the ingredients are bacon or pancetta, eggs, Parmesan and garlic.

it’s ridiculously simple and soooo worth doing it properly

notaweddingdress · 29/10/2025 15:28

monkeysox · 29/10/2025 12:55

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ultimate-spaghetti-carbonara-recipe

I use this one. It’s very cheesy (I’ve had some in restaurants which are more oily) so tastes quite creamy and absolutely delicious in my humble opinion (I guess you could also add extra cream if you wanted to).

TeaRoseTallulah · 29/10/2025 13:35

Lardons not bacon , lots of garlic and cream as others have already said. Lots of cheese. Yum

WingBingo · 29/10/2025 13:33

Use Pecorino rather than Parmesan.

You lot are heathens with your onions, garlic or mushrooms. They don’t belong in a Carbonara.

Mushrooms are a good idea though, to be fair.

lighteningthequeen · 29/10/2025 13:29

Creamy cheesey bacon pasta 😆 fry lardons with a bit of garlic powder and add dried oregano just before it’s done. Take pan off heat. Cook pasta, save half a mug of pasta water when draining. Add pasta to bacon pan with two egg yolks, loads of strong cheddar cheese and 200ml double cream stir like fuck. Add bit of pasta water as you go until it’s as saucey as you want it!

childofthe607080s · 29/10/2025 13:28

Bacon eggs and cream ? Cheese isn’t critical

Original poster
Fraom · 29/10/2025 13:28

Thanks all, making this for lunch today. Need to actually leave the house

OP posts:
Magnalux · 29/10/2025 13:28

for a creamy sauce I use half double cream half crème fraiche, crumble in a veg oxo cube. Add Parmesan if you like at the end. Use a bit of pasta water to thin it down if needed

Original poster
Fraom · 29/10/2025 13:27

buffyreboot · 29/10/2025 13:02

Do you want authentic or just creamy? I do a cream sauce by
boiling pasta
frying off pancetta or chopped bacon, then add garlic. Add double cream and grated Parmesan
tip pasta into sauce
Add more Parmesan and black pepper

sometimes I add broccoli for “health” Grin

NOT authentic. The kind you get from Pizza Express et al

OP posts:
Original poster
Fraom · 29/10/2025 13:25

MidnightPatrol · 29/10/2025 11:15

How are you making it now? I’m not sure how it could be described as sharp.

I do 4 x eggs yolks and 2x egg whites to serve 3/4 - plus a lot of grated Parmesan.

Hmm not necessarily sharp I guess. Just that aftertaste from the Parmesan. Maybe I need a less posh cheese

OP posts:
AtomHeartMotherOfGod · 29/10/2025 13:23

I sometimes make a creamier carbonara but I don't get what you mean by 'too authentic'! My children love my recipe so this is the creamy version of it:

Bacon or equivalent, roasted so it's a bit crispy and chopped.
Roughly an egg per person.
Parmesan; about 1tbsp per egg.
Chopped parsley; about 1/2 to 1 tsp per egg (unconventional but adds a nice freshness).
A splash of double cream; like what you might add to tea.
Ground black pepper.

All the above except the bacon gets put in a mug or a small Pyrex and whisked up.

Cook the pasta to al dente, drain it, then mix through the bacon and eggy mixture. If it's not cooking enough with the heat of the pasta, put the hob on and keep stirring. You don't fully cook the sauce so it's still nice and wet and coats the pasta. You want the eggs to be starting to come together and 'scramble' but not fully cooked.