Carbonara (American version)

Ingredients

• 3-4 quarts boiling salted oiled water
• 8 ounces spaghetti
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 slices smoked bacon, diced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• ½ teaspoon-1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
• 12-16 ounces tomato sauce
• 2-4 ounces freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Procedure

1. Boil spaghetti 6 minutes or so, just al dente, drain.
2. As water is put on to boil, start heating olive oil in medium saucepan, and sauté bacon until fat is just clear.
3. Add onion and sauté until soft.
4. Add crushed red pepper and cook 2-3 minutes more.
5. Add tomato sauce and heat through.
6. Remove from heat, add Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately over spaghetti.
7. May garnish with additional Parmesan cheese.

Tips, Notes, and Variations

• As this is for cooking, virgin or extra virgin olive oil is not necessary, any grade, even "pure" olive oil is sufficient.
• "Al dente" means "to the tooth." The pasta should be firm in the center when bitten.
• Amount of crushed red peppers is widely variable to suit your taste.