From the Cook
From the Cook
From the Cook
From the Cook
From the Cook
1/6
Instructions
1
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, peel the garlic and slice it thinly. Wash the lemon, grate about a quarter of the zest, and squeeze the juice from half of the lemon — set both aside. Place the lemon zest, garlic, and olive oil in a skillet, but do not turn on the heat yet.
2
Once the water is boiling, add salt and then the pasta. Set a timer to cook the pasta about 30 seconds less than the time indicated on the package.
3
About five minutes before the pasta timer is done, turn the skillet to medium-high heat. In a bowl, whisk the egg and stir in two-thirds of the Parmesan.
4
Once the pasta is done and the garlic has turned a light golden brown, remove the skillet from the heat and add the pasta directly from the pot into the skillet. Deglaze with the lemon juice. Gradually stir in the egg and cheese mixture.
5
Toss the pasta with tongs until the sauce thickens nicely. Then, add a little pasta water at a time, continuing to stir, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. If needed, thicken with the remaining Parmesan, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
6
Serve as desired with a little fresh lemon zest, pepper, and the remaining Parmesan.
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Tips & Tricks (5)
- Reserve Pasta Water First 💧Save at least 1 cup of starchy pasta cooking water before draining—this is essential for creating the silky sauce consistency, as the starch helps emulsify the egg and oil into a luxurious cream.
- Temperature Control for Eggs 🥚Temper your eggs by slowly whisking in warm pasta water before adding to the hot pasta to prevent scrambling; keep the pan off direct heat when combining for a perfectly creamy carbonara-style sauce.
- Zest Before Juicing 🍋Always zest your lemon before cutting it in half to juice, capturing the most flavorful oils in the peel; add zest at the end for bright, fresh flavor that stands out from the cooked sauce.
- Infuse Oil with Garlic 🧄Gently heat garlic in olive oil over low heat for 1-2 minutes to release its aromatic oils without browning, creating a fragrant base that distributes flavor evenly throughout the dish.
- Finish with Cold Butter & Cheese 🧈Remove from heat and whisk in a knob of cold butter along with the Parmigiano Reggiano to create an emulsified, glossy sauce that clings to the pasta rather than pooling at the bottom.
Recipe Facts
Diet at a Glance
Vegetarian
Low Sugar
My Calorie Intake
Smart Nutrition 
Nutrition Per Serving
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Glycemic Analysis
Glycemic Index
Glycemic Load
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