Here is a very quick run through of Jenni's recipe for carbonara.

Click on the images to embiggen them.

What you need

  • Cubed pancetta, Crème Fraiche, Parmesan
  • Cubed pancetta, Crème Fraiche, Parmesan
  • Cubed pancetta, Crème Fraiche, Parmesan
  • Cubed pancetta, Crème Fraiche, Parmesan

  • Bacon or cubed Pancetta (I actually used both here)
  • Crème Fraiche (or single cream)
  • Parmesan
  • Mushrooms
  • Garlic or Garlic Purée
  • Black pepper for grinding
  • Pasta

What to do

  1. Chop up the bacon into bits

    Bacon and Scissors

  2. Fry it (and the pancetta cubes if you have any)

    Frying the meat

  3. Squeeze in some garlic

    Garlic purée

  4. Chop up the mushrooms

    Mushrooms

  5. Fry them

    Bacon and mushrooms

  6. Add the Crème fraiche

    Crè fraiche

  7. Crack in pepper

    Black pepper

  8. Cut off a chunk of Parmesan

    Parmesan

  9. Grate it using the small side of the grater into the sauce

    Grated parmesan

  10. Cook pasta

    Pasta

  11. Put one on top of the other

    Done.

There are many, many variations for this including some with eggs, some with single cream, some with ham instead of bacon or pancetta, some with lemon juice. This one is about the simplest, though. Enjoy.