Jamie Oliver’s British Carbonara
1550
- Total Time15 min
- Makes2 Servings
(Photo: David Loftus)
This decadent carbonara uses bacon and cheddar in place of the traditional pancetta and parmesan.
Ingredients
5 1/2 oz dried penne
4 strips smoked bacon
olive oil
1 garlic clove
pepper
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 large egg
2 oz cheddar, finely grated
Instructions
COOK penne in a saucepan of boiling salted water according to package instructions. Slice bacon and fry in a hot pan with a drizzle of olive oil.
WHEN lightly golden, squash in garlic through a garlic press, then add a good pinch of pepper and fresh rosemary leaves and remove from the heat. Beat egg with cheddar cheese, then stir in 4 tbsp of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta, then immediately and thoroughly stir into the bacon pan, followed by the egg mixture, until silky smooth and delicious. If the pan is still sizzling hot, you’ll scramble the eggs, so make sure you do this off the heat.
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This recipe was excerpted from Save with Jamie by Jamie Oliver.
During his 26-year career, Jamie has sold over 50 million books worldwide, and his TV series are watched by millions around the globe. He’s inspired generations to enjoy cooking fresh, delicious food from scratch, and has published 28 best-selling cookbooks. His latest book, Eat Yourself Healthy, came out in September 2025.
