From Mostly Martha · 2001 · Reconstructed
Mario's Pasta Carbonara
Serve when
Mario twirls the first forkful, eats it noisily in front of Lina, then just hands her the plate and looks away — that's the moment to plate everyone else's.
In the movie
Theatrical
- ~00:38:20 Mario cooks carbonara for the kitchen staff, claiming his mother whispered him the recipe on her deathbed. Martha takes two begrudging mouthfuls and walks out.
- ~00:45:10 Left alone with Lina, who has refused to eat since her mother's death, Mario twirls a forkful of the same carbonara, eats it himself, then casually sets the plate in front of her — and she finally eats.
It's the plainest dish in Martha's kitchen and the only one that actually breaks through to Lina. Mario doesn't argue with the girl or plead with her — he just eats in front of her like it's the easiest thing in the world, then leaves the plate behind. That's the whole trick, and it's the first thing Lina eats since her mother died.
Ingredients
Method
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil for the spaghetti.
- While the water heats, render the guanciale in a cold sauté pan over medium-low heat until crisp and golden, then take the pan off the heat.
- Whisk the yolks, whole egg, and pecorino together in a bowl with a generous amount of black pepper until it's a thick, pale paste.
- Cook the spaghetti until just shy of al dente, then lift it straight into the pan of guanciale with tongs, letting a little pasta water come along.
- Off the heat, pour in the egg mixture and toss fast and constantly — the residual heat of the pasta and pan should be enough to thicken it into a glossy sauce without scrambling. Add a splash more starchy pasta water if it seizes up.
- Plate immediately with more pecorino and pepper. Eat one forkful yourself before you pass the plate on — Mario would insist.
Beyond the recipe
Watch & shop
As an Amazon Associate, FlixNFood earns from qualifying purchases.