Ingredients
Pasta
- 16 ounces spaghetti (reserve 1 cup of cooking water)
Sauce
- 3 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Coarse kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Halloumi & Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces halloumi cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to the package directions. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water to use in the sauce.
- Prepare the egg mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and freshly grated Parmesan cheese until smooth. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Cook the halloumi: When the pasta has about 6 minutes left to cook, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cubed halloumi and cook, stirring frequently, until the cheese is golden brown and crispy on all sides, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Combine pasta and cheese: Add the drained spaghetti directly to the skillet with the halloumi and garlic, then remove the pan from heat to prevent the eggs from scrambling in the next step.
- Incorporate reserved water: Slowly whisk 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water into the egg and Parmesan mixture to temper it, creating a smooth sauce.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Gradually pour the egg mixture over the pasta, using tongs to toss continuously, ensuring the spaghetti is evenly coated. Add more pasta water as needed to achieve a glossy, creamy sauce that clings to each strand of pasta.
- Season and serve: Taste the pasta and season with coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper as desired. Serve immediately while hot and creamy.
Notes
- Be sure to remove the skillet from the heat before adding the egg mixture to prevent the eggs from scrambling.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and smooth sauce texture.
- Reserve the pasta cooking water as it helps adjust the sauce consistency to be creamy and glossy.
- Halloumi can be substituted with another firm, grilling cheese if desired, but halloumi’s unique texture works best.
- For a vegetarian dish, confirm the Parmesan cheese used is free from animal rennet.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
