There is such a huge array of pasta recipes all over the internet, but not many are this quick and easy to cook.

The recipe for spaghetti alla carbonara from Jamie Oliver is sure to taste as good as it sounds. 

Luscious and wonderfully indulgent, the ingredients are simple – just spaghetti (or any other pasta), and the carbonara is made with pancetta or bacon, eggs, Parmesan, a little olive oil, salt and pepper.

Describing the recipe, Jamie said: “This easy pasta sauce will cook in about the same time it takes to cook some dried pasta in boiling salted water – we’re talking about quick and easy options here. 

“These amounts serve two but are easy to scale up or down. Remember you want about 75g of dried pasta per person – use whatever shape you’ve got.”

Ingredients 

150g dried spaghetti

Two rashers of higher-welfare smoked streaky bacon

Olive oil

Two free-range eggs

30g Parmesan cheese, plus extra for grating

Method

Start by cooking the pasta in a pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions.

Next, slice the bacon and place it in a non-stick frying pan on medium heat with half a tablespoon of olive oil and a really good pinch of black pepper. 

Leave this to get super-golden and crispy, tossing occasionally, then turn off the heat.

In the meantime, beat the eggs in a bowl, then finely grate in the Parmesan and mix well.

Grab a pair of tongs to use to transfer your pasta straight into the pan and toss it with the bacon.

After, pour the Parmesan eggs into the pan, and keep everything moving, loosening with splashes of the pasta cooking water until you have a silky sauce. 

Jamie pointed out that it’s crucial to ensure the pan isn’t too hot otherwise “the eggs will scramble”.

Finish off by plating up the pasta with an extra grating of Parmesan on top and enjoy.