The Italian restaurants from Big Mamma, Gloria and Circolo Popolare have been huge successes since they opened. Serving up quality Italian food at good prices and huge portions, they've earned themselves a legion of followers over here.
A third restaurant is on the way, and they're also currently delivering across London with Napoli Gang - with their towering lemon pie a signature dish.
The following recipe is an Italian classic from Big Mamma, and is normally served up in a huge pecorino wheel at Gloria in Shoreditch.
la Gran carbonara - for 4 People
You heard right - real Italian carbonara sauce is made without cream. Chef Filippo La Gattuta makes a spectacle of serving it straight out of a big pecorino wheel at London trattoria Gloria.
Ingredients:
- 3 whole eggs and 6 egg yolks 90 g/3 oz (1 cup) grated Pecorino cheese
- 90 g/3 oz (1 cup) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 400 g/14 oz spaghetti
- 8 slices of guanciale (cured pork cheek/jowl), finely sliced
Method:
- In a bowl, mix the whole eggs and egg yolks with the pecorino, Parmesan and pepper. Set aside.
- Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the spaghetti according to the package directions, then drain, reserving the cooking water.
- In the meantime, add the guanciale slices to a dry frying pan (skillet) over a medium heat and sear for 5 minutes, or until crispy.
- Add 1 tablespoon of the pasta cooking water, followed by the spaghetti.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Add the egg mixture and mix briskly. The eggs should not cook too much and the consistency of the sauce should be creamy.
- Transfer to a large serving dish and serve immediately.
Big Mamma Cucina Popolare
Big Mamma's Cucina Popolare puts a clever contemporary spin on tradition featuring more than 120 delicious, easy-to-prepare, imaginative recipes. Created in collaboration with one of the most exciting and successful Italian restaurant groups in the world, the dishes in this vibrant and accessible book include true classics such as Risotto alla Milanese and Tiramisù, while others reflect the most creative Italian food today, with such intriguingly named dishes as Burrata Flower Power and Double Choco Love.
The one thing that unites them all is that everything enjoys a fresh and modern twist - making this the perfect collection of recipes for a new generation of food lovers and Italophiles.
Plus, win a copy of the book and a Pecorino wheel!
Want to make this dish the best way possible? Here's how to enter.
More about Gloria and Circolo Popolare
Where are they? Shoreditch and Fitzrovia
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @bigmamma.uk
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