Common Ingredients in carbonara Recipes

We researched the most common ingredients in over twenty popular carbonara recipes and found the top 15 ingredients.

The most common ingredient in carbonara dishes is eggs.

Olive oil, spaghetti, parmesan cheese, egg yolks, pancetta and garlic are also common ingredients in carbonara recipes. For herbs and spices, cayenne pepper is popular. Variations include:

• yolks in place of parmesan cheese
• yolks in place of egg yolks
• bacon in place of pancetta

Salt is in 85% of carbonara recipes and pepper, 70%.

The average carbonara recipe has about 10.5 ingredients, with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 20.

In terms of directions, carbonara recipes have about 5.7 steps on average, ranging from 2 to 15 instructions.

An average carbonara recipe takes about 38 minutes to prepare, ranging from 20 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes.

Ratios of Common Ingredients in Carbonara

For 4 eggs (224 g), the median and average amounts of other significant ingredients are below. Some ingredients are potential substitutes for others, meaning they almost never exist together in a single carbonara recipe, and are marked below.

Ingredient	Median	Average	% of recipes with eggs	Potential subsitutions
olive oil	2.7 tablespoon (36 g)	4 tablespoon (55 g)	67%
spaghetti	1.2 pound (529 g)	1.3 pound (612 g)	60%
parmesan cheese	1.4 cup (127 g)	1.6 cup (139 g)	40%	yolks
pancetta	4 ounce (113 g)	7.5 ounce (213 g)	33%	bacon
parmigiano reggiano	1.1 ounce (31 g)	1.6 ounce (45 g)	33%
egg yolks	13.4 large (228 g)	13.4 large (228 g)	27%	yolks
pecorino	1.7 cup (47 g)	1.8 cup (50 g)	27%
bacon	4 ounce (113 g)	6.7 ounce (189 g)	20%	pancetta
shallots	3 medium (30 g)	4.3 medium (43 g)	20%	parsley onion

Ingredients by Average Weight in Carbonara

We also found the average content of the significant ingredients by weight in carbonara recipes. This would be: 48% spaghetti, 18% eggs, 8% pancetta, 7% parmesan cheese, 7% egg yolks, 5% olive oil, 3% bacon, 2% salt and 1% pecorino.

Here are the top ingredients, listed in order of popularity.

salt

Salt is the most popular ingredient in carbonara dishes. In fact, over 85% of carbonara recipes contain salt.

In carbonara recipes that contain salt, it is on average, 0.8% by weight.

For carbonara recipes, salt is frequently used with black pepper, olive oil, eggs, spaghetti and egg yolks.

eggs

Another popular ingredient in carbonara is eggs. From the recipes we've sampled for carbonara, over 85% have eggs.

Variations of eggs include:

• egg yolks: 44% of recipes

In recipes for carbonara, eggs is often used with salt, black pepper, olive oil, spaghetti and parmesan cheese.

Potential substitutions for eggs in carbonara:

• asiago cheese

Also, eggs is not often used with paprika and white cheddar.

egg yolks

Egg yolks is another common ingredient in carbonara dishes. In fact, over 40% of carbonara recipes contain egg yolks.

Whisked is a frequent preparation for egg yolks in carbonara dishes.

Egg yolks is often included in carbonara dishes in amounts of 4 larges, 3 larges or 2 larges.

In carbonara recipes that contain egg yolks, it is on average, 7% by weight.

For carbonara recipes, egg yolks is frequently used with salt, olive oil, black pepper, parmesan cheese and spaghetti.

Potential substitutions for egg yolks in carbonara:

• yolks

Also, egg yolks is not often used with butter and white vinegar.

black pepper

Black pepper is another common ingredient in carbonara dishes. In fact, over 70% of carbonara recipes contain black pepper.

Ground and cracked are frequent preparations for black pepper in carbonara dishes.

Common quantities for black pepper in carbonara dishes include 1 teaspoon.

In carbonara recipes that contain black pepper, it is on average, 0.1% by weight.

Salt, olive oil, eggs, spaghetti and egg yolks are commonly used together with black pepper in carbonara dishes.

olive oil

Another popular ingredient in carbonara is olive oil. From the recipes we've sampled for carbonara, over 70% have olive oil.

Olive oil is often included in carbonara dishes in amounts of 1 tablespoon, 2 tablespoons or a quarter cup.

In carbonara recipes that contain olive oil, it is on average, 3% by weight.

For carbonara recipes, olive oil is frequently used with salt, black pepper, spaghetti, eggs and parmesan cheese.

spaghetti

Spaghetti is another common ingredient in carbonara dishes. In fact, over 55% of carbonara recipes contain spaghetti.

Carbonara dishes often call for spaghetti to be cooked.

Spaghetti is often included in carbonara dishes in amounts of 1 pound.

In carbonara recipes that contain spaghetti, it is on average, 38% by weight.

In recipes for carbonara, spaghetti is often used with salt, olive oil, black pepper, eggs and parmesan cheese. On the other hand, spaghetti is almost never used with heavy cream.

parmesan cheese

Another popular ingredient in carbonara is parmesan cheese. From the recipes we've sampled for carbonara, over 40% have parmesan cheese.

Grated is a frequent preparation for parmesan cheese in carbonara dishes.

Common quantities for parmesan cheese in carbonara dishes include half a cup, 1 cup or 2 ounces.

In carbonara recipes that contain parmesan cheese, it is on average, 7% by weight.

Salt, olive oil, black pepper, spaghetti and egg yolks are commonly used together with parmesan cheese in carbonara dishes.

Potential substitutions for parmesan cheese in carbonara:

• yolks

Also, parmesan cheese is not often used with parmigiano reggiano and paprika.

pancetta

Another popular ingredient in carbonara is pancetta. From the recipes we've sampled for carbonara, over 30% have pancetta.

Carbonara dishes often call for pancetta to be diced.

Pancetta is often included in carbonara dishes in amounts of 4 ounces.

In carbonara recipes that contain pancetta, it is on average, 11% by weight.

In recipes for carbonara, pancetta is often used with salt, black pepper, olive oil, eggs and thyme.

Potential substitutions for pancetta in carbonara:

• bacon

Also, pancetta is not often used with white wine, paprika and peas.

garlic

Garlic is another common ingredient in carbonara dishes. In fact, over 30% of carbonara recipes contain garlic.

Chopped and sliced are frequent preparations for garlic in carbonara dishes.

Common quantities for garlic in carbonara dishes include 4 cloves or 2 cloves.

In carbonara recipes that contain garlic, it is on average, 0.8% by weight.

Salt, olive oil, black pepper, egg yolks and spaghetti are commonly used together with garlic in carbonara dishes. Conversely, garlic is not often used with parmigiano reggiano, peas and yolks.

cayenne pepper

Another popular ingredient in carbonara is cayenne pepper. From the recipes we've sampled for carbonara, over 25% have cayenne pepper.

In carbonara recipes that contain cayenne pepper, it is on average, 0.1% by weight.

For carbonara recipes, cayenne pepper is frequently used with salt, olive oil, spaghetti, egg yolks and garlic. However, parmigiano reggiano, bacon, shallots, chicken broth and yolks are almost never used together with cayenne pepper in carbonara dishes.

butter

Butter is another common ingredient in carbonara dishes. In fact, over 25% of carbonara recipes contain butter.

Butter is often included in carbonara dishes in amounts of 1 tablespoon.

In carbonara recipes that contain butter, it is on average, 0.9% by weight.

In recipes for carbonara, butter is often used with salt, olive oil, cayenne pepper, pecorino and pancetta. On the other hand, butter is almost never used with parmigiano reggiano, bacon, chicken broth, paprika, yolks and white vinegar.

pecorino

Another popular ingredient in carbonara is pecorino. From the recipes we've sampled for carbonara, over 20% have pecorino.

Grated is a frequent preparation for pecorino in carbonara dishes.

Common quantities for pecorino in carbonara dishes include a quarter cup.

In carbonara recipes that contain pecorino, it is on average, 3% by weight.

Salt, eggs, black pepper, olive oil and spaghetti are commonly used together with pecorino in carbonara dishes. Conversely, pecorino is not often used with parsley, thyme, bacon, shallots, paprika, butter, flour, fontina cheese, heavy cream, asiago cheese, white cheddar and white vinegar.

parsley

Parsley is another common ingredient in carbonara dishes. In fact, over 20% of carbonara recipes contain parsley.

Chopped is a frequent preparation for parsley in carbonara dishes.

Parsley is often included in carbonara dishes in amounts of half a cup.

In carbonara recipes that contain parsley, it is on average, 1.5% by weight.

For carbonara recipes, parsley is frequently used with parmesan cheese, spaghetti, egg yolks, olive oil and salt.

Potential substitutions for parsley in carbonara:

• shallots

Also, parsley is not often used with pecorino, paprika, peas, butter, yolks and heavy cream.

bacon

Another popular ingredient in carbonara is bacon. From the recipes we've sampled for carbonara, over 15% have bacon.

Carbonara dishes often call for bacon to be diced.

Bacon is often included in carbonara dishes in amounts of 6 ounces.

In carbonara recipes that contain bacon, it is on average, 9% by weight.

In recipes for carbonara, bacon is often used with spaghetti, black pepper, salt, olive oil and parmesan cheese.

Potential substitutions for bacon in carbonara:

• pancetta

Also, bacon is not often used with cayenne pepper, pecorino, shallots, butter, paprika, flour, fontina cheese, yolks, heavy cream, asiago cheese, white cheddar and white vinegar.

thyme

Thyme is another common ingredient in carbonara dishes. In fact, over 15% of carbonara recipes contain thyme.

Chopped is a frequent preparation for thyme in carbonara dishes.

Common quantities for thyme in carbonara dishes include 2 teaspoons.

In carbonara recipes that contain thyme, it is on average, 0.1% by weight.

Salt, olive oil, black pepper, parmesan cheese and pancetta are commonly used together with thyme in carbonara dishes.

Potential substitutions for thyme in carbonara:

• paprika
• white vinegar

Also, thyme is not often used with pecorino, parmigiano reggiano, onion and white wine.

Other carbonara Ingredients

Other significant ingredients used in carbonara recipes include:

• parmigiano reggiano - 15%
• onion - 15%
• shallots - 15%
• chicken broth - 15%
• white wine - 15%
• paprika - 10%
• peas - 10%
• flour - 10%
• fontina cheese - 10%
• yolks - 5%
• heavy cream - 5%
• asiago cheese - 5%
• white cheddar - 5%
• white vinegar - 5%

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