Some say spaghetti carbonara emerged after WWII, thanks in part to American soldiers and their packets of MRE eggs. Others say the name is drawn from “carbone,” or charcoal—a reference to the dish's complexion thanks to a copious amount of pepper. Whatever the roots, this brighter take on carbonara came from Pipero Roma, a white table cloth restaurant in Rome. Their secret: Egg yolks are whisked until cooked and slightly foamy creating a sauce that is much lighter in texture than most carbonara recipes. Mixing the yolks with water and cornstarch ensures the cheese won't clump up when tossed with the pasta.

Note: since developing this recipe, we've created a low-water skillet method that utilizes starchy pasta water to emulsify and smooth the sauce. Find our recipe for Skillet Spaghetti alla Carbonara here.