Carbonara Supreme

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a medium-sized bowl, crack the eggs and whisk them until smooth. Grate the pecorino cheese and parmesan cheese, adding them to the bowl with the eggs. Season the mixture with a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper. Pour in the heavy cream and continue whisking until all the ingredients are well combined and the mixture is smooth and creamy. Set the sauce mixture aside while you proceed with cooking the other components of the dish.

In a large skillet over medium heat, add the pancetta slices in a single layer. Cook the pancetta until it becomes crispy and golden brown, stirring occasionally for about 5-7 minutes. Once the pancetta is cooked to your desired crispness, transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess grease. In the same skillet with the rendered pancetta fat, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute or until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic. Once the garlic is fragrant, remove the skillet from heat to prevent further cooking and keep the flavors fresh.

Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan with the pancetta and garlic. Pour the egg mixture over the spaghetti and toss quickly to coat. It's essential to combine the ingredients swiftly to ensure the residual heat from the pasta and pancetta cooks the eggs into a creamy sauce without scrambling them. Toss continuously for about 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the spaghetti evenly. Make sure the pan is off the heat while doing this to avoid overheating and curdling the eggs. The creamy sauce should have a smooth and velvety consistency before proceeding to the next step.

In a separate pan, sauté the halved cherry tomatoes in butter until slightly softened, about 2-3 minutes.

Plate the carbonara pasta, top with sautéed cherry tomatoes, and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Serve hot and enjoy!

For a twist on the classic Carbonara, you can try adding some sautéed mushrooms or peas for extra flavor and texture.