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!)
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?
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
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 Minds
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)
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
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Kristen
Now this looks delish! I never can find the right consistency for my carbonara, but this one really looks like a winner!
Jolina
Thanks! And I know what you mean about the consistency, can’t be too thick or too runny. I think quickly tossing and coating the pasta with eggs then gradually adding in pasta water should do the trick 🙂
Aldous H.
Bob’s Burgers burgers please!
Jolina
Hahaha now wouldn’t that be fun! 🙂
Helen
Haha, I’m not a fan of Criminal Minds but like that you pulled a recipe from a character in show. More people should do this! Nice post.
Candice
Mmmm these would be good birthday noodles! Carbonara is a favorite of mine as well, simple and decadent. The first time I read about carbonara was in Ruth Riechel’s book and she called it her hangover cure ha ha!
Jolina
I can understand how this is an awesome hangover cure lol! And yes I love how simple it is…so few ingredients I was first afraid it would taste really bland but it is anything but 🙂
Sharon
This looks so delicious! Love this amazing photo. My family loves a good yummy pasta and I’ll be making this for dinner. They’re going to love it.
Gillian
I am a huge Criminal Minds fan. Wouldn’t it be fun to go to Dave’s place and drink wine? I have had 2 Italian students who taught me how to make carbonara. I always though it used cream but no! This dish is so delicious!
Jolina
Hello fellow fan! I’d love to just hang out and chill in his backyard too, which looks massive. And I thought carbonara had cream as well (that’s how my mom always made it I wonder how she feels about this haha).
Catherine
I absolutely LOVE that show! I love this recipe too! What a fun and delicious dish!
Jolina
It was so much fun recreating it! I’ve been a fan for a while so I was totally geeking out lol!
Lacee
I have attempted a similar recipe, but I also scrambled the eggs. 🙁 I will have to try again!
Jolina
Hi Lacee! When that happened to me, we ate it anyway. It was still delicious, albeit a little dry. Hope you try this one. Good luck!
Jeni
ha! I love eggs, lol, I can’t imagine being turned off by them but I know many people are. This carbonara looks so delish! And easy too!
Jolina
Hi Jeni! We love eggs too, I just don’t *love* raw ones haha.
Karyl
OMG I am obsessed with Criminal Minds! I almost stopped watching when Morgan left and they fired Hotch…I’m holding out hope that Morgan comes back though 🙂 I cried like a baby on his last full episode. I love that you created Rossi’s recipe!! I’m going to have to try this one for sure
Jolina
I know, I miss his baby girl lines lol. He’s the only person who can pull that off without being creepy haha!! Hope you enjoy this carbonara as much as we do. Bye for now…wheels up in 30.
Danielle
I love carbonara and you’ve made it sound so easy! I’m always worried that I will scramble the eggs too 🙂
Jolina
Hi Danielle! Lemme tell you, even when I scrambled the eggs it was still delicious and we still ate it lol. It was a delicious mistake I must say. Hope you try the recipe!
Whitney
Looks yummy!
lisa
Pasta is my spirit animal when it comes to food. I love a great carbonara and will have to give this a try soon and see what the family thinks!
Jolina
Love that, spirit animal 🙂 Hope you and the family like it!
Tonya Wilhelm
This pasta looks amazing. I have to admit, scrolling down, those desserts look really good too!
Jolina
Aw thanks Tonya! I’m in fact more of a desserts girl with a sprinkling of savoury 🙂
Marissa Zurfluh
Oh Yum! This looks amazing!