Spaghetti Carbonara Halal (No Cream)

Steps

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1. 1
   Thinly slice the garlic cloves and finely chop the parsley. Tip: soak the parsley briefly in cold water before chopping to refresh it.
   ▶ ≈1:40
2. 2
   Roughly chop the streaky beef and set aside.
   ▶ ≈1:32
3. 3
   Crack 2–3 eggs and separate the yolks into a bowl. Grate the parmesan cheese (about 30g) and mix it with the yolks. Add black pepper powder and a pinch of salt, then stir until well combined into a paste.
   ▶ ≈2:06
4. 4
   Bring 3–4 litres of water to a rolling boil in a large pot and add 1 tbsp of salt. Add the spaghetti and cook to 80% of the package's recommended time (e.g., if it says 10 minutes, cook for 8) to achieve al dente texture—tender outside with a slight firmness inside. Do not add oil to the pasta water, as it will prevent the sauce from coating properly.
   ▶ ≈3:23
5. 5
   Heat 4 tbsp of olive oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Gently sauté the garlic slices until fragrant, being careful not to let them burn. Add the streaky beef and stir-fry until the edges are golden and the fat renders out, creating a smoky flavour.
   ▶ ≈4:01
6. 6
   Drain the cooked spaghetti (reserving about 1 cup of pasta cooking water) and add it directly into the pan with the beef mixture. Toss gently to combine.
   ▶ ≈5:03
7. 7
   This is the critical step: remove the pan from heat. Pour in the egg yolk and cheese mixture while adding the reserved hot pasta water a little at a time, stirring or tossing the pan rapidly to emulsify the egg evenly without scrambling it. Alternatively, you can work over a double boiler (bain-marie) to control the temperature more gently.
   ▶ ≈5:30
8. 8
   Adjust the salt to taste. Continue stirring until the sauce becomes thick and creamy, coating each strand of pasta beautifully.
   ▶ ≈6:01
9. 9
   Plate the spaghetti and finish with freshly cracked black pepper and chopped parsley as garnish, along with a light dusting of grated parmesan cheese. If you prefer a saucier dish, add more reserved pasta water as needed.
   ▶ ≈7:00