You know those link baiting headlines screaming “97 things you must know/cook/travel before you’re 20/30/dead”?

I hate them! They make me feel so bad about myself!!
(maybe ‘cos I’m so behind their unrealistic curve 🙁 )

But.. BUT! I can make a 4-ingredient no-cream pasta carbonara in less than 30mins! This!

And I’m telling you, SO CAN YOU! That’s how the Italians do it: eggs + cheese + bacon + black pepper. If you choose to drown in carbs, might as well go authentic!

For this recipe, I put garlic and onion for added fantasticness. I find the original 4-ingredient recipe boring (sorry, Italians); the extra bits kicked it to greater heights.

Ready? Let’s go! Full recipe at the end of the post.

First, cook the pasta. Boil some water, add some salt, then throw in enough pasta for 2. While it’s cooking, do all these:

I recently discovered the joy of chopping onions without bawling my eyes out as if my pet cat died. It took me a long time to find out that the sharper the knife, the less you cry. There must be a stream of logic that the smart people can explain to you.

Also if pork is off limits to you, substitute with fine quality beef bacon. Or Chinese ham. Or chicken ham (then add salt). The point is, something fatty and salty.

Heat up the oil in a pan. Cook bacon until slightly crispy, then add onion and garlic if you wanna.

Once the pasta is cooked, drain well then put into the pan, mix well with the bacon + onion + garlic.

Turn off the fire, carefully add the mixed egg + cheese + black pepper. Mix well, keep, turning it around, make sure the pasta is evenly coated.

Serve to self and appreciative partner/ friend. Add more black pepper if you like.

Then workout like hell ‘cos you just ate enough calories to feed [insert name of starving village here].

Enjois.