carbonara

Carbonara is an Italian specialty that's made by stirring eggs, cheese, and cured pork into hot pasta, creating a rich, creamy dish.

While some modern variations outside of Italy contain cream, traditional versions of carbonara never contain butter or cream. The dish's silky creaminess instead comes from the method of quickly combining eggs and cheese with freshly cooked, hot pasta. Carbonara originated in the Lazio region of Italy, probably in the early 20th century, and it's often categorized as a Roman dish. Experts have many theories about the etymology of carbonara, one of which claims it was the favorite food of Italian charcoal workers, or carbonai.