Filipino Carbonara is a delicious and unique take on a classic Italian dish that you won't want to miss.
Jump to:
What is Filipino Carbonara?
Filipino Carbonara is a Filipino-style version of the Italian pasta dish carbonara. While the original carbonara typically consists of spaghetti or linguine, pancetta or guanciale, eggs, Pecorino Romano cheese, and black pepper, the Filipino version is using bacon and/or ham and adds a few more ingredients like evaporated milk to make it creamier and more flavorful.
It's a popular dish in the Philippines, and for good reason - it's absolutely delicious
Ingredients
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make Filipino Carbonara, along with some tips and tricks to help you make it the best it can be.
- Pasta - Spaghetti pasta is a staple ingredient in any Carbonara recipe. It is the base of the dish and provides a filling and comforting meal.
- Bacon - Bacon is a crucial ingredient in this recipe. The smoky and salty flavor of the bacon provides a nice contrast to the creamy sauce. The bacon also adds texture to the dish, making it more interesting to eat.
- Butter - The addition of butter can also help to make the sauce creamier and silkier. It is important to use unsalted butter. This will give you more control over the overall saltiness of the dish, as the bacon and parmesan cheese already provide a lot of saltiness to the recipe.
- Beef stock - The beef stock can add a rich, meaty flavor to the sauce, and it can also help to balance out the richness of the cream and cheese.
- Onion - Onion adds a subtle sweetness to the dish and helps to balance out the saltiness of the bacon.
- Garlic - Garlic adds a nice depth of flavor to the dish and helps to balance out the creaminess of the sauce.
- Mushroom - Mushrooms are a versatile ingredient that can add a lot of depth and umami flavor to the dish.
- Evaporated milk - Evaporated milk has a slightly sweeter flavor than heavy cream, which can help to balance out the salty and savory flavors of the bacon and parmesan cheese.
- Heavy Cream - Heavy cream is the main ingredient in the sauce. It provides a rich and creamy texture to the dish that is essential to the recipe.
- Parmesan Cheese - Parmesan cheese adds a salty and nutty flavor to the dish. It also helps to thicken the sauce and create a more cohesive dish.
- Salt and Pepper - Salt and pepper are essential ingredients in any recipe. They help to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients and bring the dish together.
Instructions
- Cook the bacon until crispy over low heat and set aside. Save 2 tablespoon of bacon grease.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside. Save ¼ cup of pasta water.
- In the same pan, heat the bacon grease over medium heat.
- Sauté onion, garlic and mushroom for 2 minutes until it softens.
- Add cooked bacon back to the pan followed by cooking cream, evaporated milk, parmesan cheese and beef stock.
- Bring the sauce to simmer and cook until the sauce has thickened
- Add the pasta, pasta water to the sauce and toss until it is evenly coated.
- Transfer to a plate, garnish with more crispy bacon, and parmesan cheese, and enjoy!
Storage
Filipino Carbonara can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. However, keep in mind that the pasta may become a bit mushy as it sits in the sauce. To reheat, simply microwave or reheat on the stove with a bit of extra milk or cream to help loosen up the sauce.
It's not recommended to freeze Filipino Carbonara as the sauce may separate and the pasta may become very mushy when thawed. If you have leftovers that you don't think you'll be able to finish within a few days, it's better to store the pasta and sauce separately and combine them just before serving.
FAQ
While the addition of evaporated milk and sometimes beef stock may not be considered authentic to the traditional Italian Carbonara recipe, Filipino Carbonara is a popular and beloved dish in the Philippines.
While you can technically use regular milk as a substitute for evaporated milk in a Filipino Carbonara recipe, the resulting sauce will be much thinner and less creamy. If you don't have evaporated milk, using heavy cream or half-and-half may be a better alternative.
For the most authentic flavor, you can use Filipino-style bacon or "tapa" in your Filipino Carbonara recipe. However, regular bacon can also be used.
Yes, you can substitute chicken stock for beef stock in your Filipino Carbonara recipe. However, the resulting flavor will be slightly different.
While you can prepare the sauce ahead of time, it's best to cook the pasta and mix in the sauce just before serving to prevent the pasta from becoming too dry or mushy.
RATE MY RECIPE !
If you enjoy my Filipino Carbonara make sure to leave a comment and rating down below. I highly appreciate it!
Tag me on Instagram @geniuseatss so I can see your creation! Don't forget to follow me on TikTok, Youtube, Pinterest and Facebook for more recipes and contents!
Thank you so much and enjoy my recipes!
PrintFILIPINO CARBONARA
Filipino Carbonara is a delicious and unique take on a classic Italian dish that you won't want to miss
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: Serving 2
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Easy
- Cuisine: Asian fusion
Ingredients
- 250 g spaghetti
- 125 g bacon
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1.5 tbsp butter
- ½ brown onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 100 g mushroom
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup evaporated milk
- 60 g parmesan cheese grated
- ⅛ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp pepper
Instructions
-
Cook the bacon until crispy over low heat and set aside. Save 2 tablespoon of bacon grease.
-
Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside. Save ¼ cup of pasta water.
-
In the same pan, heat the bacon grease over medium heat.
-
Sauté onion, garlic and mushroom for 2 minutes until it softens.
-
Add cooked bacon back to the pan followed by cooking cream, evaporated milk, parmesan cheese and beef stock.
-
Bring the sauce to simmer and cook until the sauce has thickened
-
Add the pasta, pasta water to the sauce and toss until it is evenly coated.
-
Transfer to a plate, garnish with more crispy bacon, parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Leave a Reply