Author Notes
This is French comfort food at its finest, inspired by classic Roman carbonara. The French have made the dish their own with crème fraîche and caramelized onions, and this version is naturally adapted to my own American tastes. Feel free to experiment and make it your own! —Olivia Noel
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Ingredients
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1/2 pound
pasta — I use spaghetti or linguine
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1 1/2 tablespoons
butter
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2
medium onions, sliced into ¼" half moons
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5 ounces
smoked lardons — or thick-cut bacon cut into ¼" strips
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5 ounces
crème fraîche
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salt and pepper, to taste
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1 cup
reserved pasta water
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grated parmesan or gruyère, for serving
Directions
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to pasta maker's instructions. Remember to reserve some pasta water for the sauce before draining!
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While your pasta water is heating, melt butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cook 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they have softened and browned to your desired level of caramelization.
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Add lardons and increase heat to medium-high. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until your lardons have crisped up. Pour off any excess fat.
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Reduce heat to medium-low and add crème fraîche, plus salt and pepper to taste. Continue to cook 3-5 minutes until the cream has thickened slightly and taken on the caramelized color of the onions.
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Add cooked pasta to the sauce and continue to cook 2-3 minutes, turning often. Add reserved pasta water as needed to create a loose sauce.
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Serve with freshly grated parmesan or gruyère.
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