Delicious Pasta alla Zozzona made all in one pot! This addicting Italian recipe combines guanciale, sausage, cheese and egg yolks in a rich tomato sauce. I guarantee you will fall in love with it!
2ounces(60g) pecorino cheese, finely grated plus extra to serve
4ounces(115g) guanciale, sliced
3Italian sausages, casings removed
1large onion, finely diced
2cups(500ml) passata or see notes
4cups(1 lt) chicken broth or stock
1tspsalt
12ozrigatoni, or similar dry pasta shape
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to serve
red pepper flakes, to taste
fresh basil, to serve
Instructions
Combine the grated cheese and egg yolks in a large bowl and set aside for now.
4 large egg yolks, 2 ounces (60g) pecorino cheese
Heat a large, deep skillet. Add the sliced guanciale and cook over medium heat until it starts to crisp up and render its fat. Set aside using a slotted spoon but leave the rendered fat in the skillet.
4 ounces (115g) guanciale
Add the sausage meat and cook until it turns golden brown, stirring and breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Stir in the diced onion and continue to cook for 5-7 minutes until the onion has softened.
3 Italian sausages, 1 large onion
Stir in the guanciale, passata and chicken broth, season with salt and bring to a simmer. Add the dry pasta and cook over low heat for 15 minutes or per pack instructions, stirring occasionally so that the pasta doesn't stick.
Use a ladle to spoon some of the sauce into a measuring jug. You want approximately 1 cup (250ml) of the cooking liquid. Gradually add the liquid into the egg yolk mixture, stirring all the while, to temper the egg yolks.
Test the pasta is cooked but still al dente and take the pan off the heat. Stir the egg yolk mixture into the pasta until the sauce is glossy and silky. Taste and season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
Serve sprinkled with red pepper flakes, shavings of pecorino and sliced basil with a simple green salad and some sliced focaccia.
salt and freshly ground black pepper, red pepper flakes, fresh basil
Video
Notes
Can't get hold of passata? Use canned crushed tomatoes blended with an immersion blender.
Swaps for guanciale: you can replace with pancetta or streaky bacon but it's worth your while looking for guanciale if possible! If you buy a slab of guanciale you will need to remove the rind before using. Freeze for 15 minutes to make it easier to handle and cut into thin slices.
Need to substitute the pecorino? Grated parmesan or grana padano will work in a pinch.
Want to cook the pasta separately?Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente, reserving a cup of the starchy pasta water just before draining. Use the reserved water to temper the eggs and thin the sauce. Toss the drained pasta into the sauce before serving.