Chef rates supermarket carbonara: which dish was recognized as the tastiest.

Carbonara without cream

According to The Sun: When it comes to carbonara, many believe that the more cream, the better. However, Italians insist that there shouldn't be a single gram of cream in this dish.

Traditionally, carbonara consists of four main ingredients: eggs, pecorino cheese, pork cheeks, and black pepper.

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This month, M&S presented Carbonara Alla Romana, described as the only ready meal that adheres to the original recipe.

But what is it really like? Laura Stott asked Italian Aldo Zilli, at Casa Zilli, to share his opinion on six supermarket carbonara options.

ALDI CUCINA

400g, £2.69

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After cooking, the dish turns out quite watery. However, the taste is pleasant, and there is a noticeable smoked bacon flavor.

The cheese in this carbonara is cheddar, which adds some flavor, although an Italian cheese like pecorino should have been used. However, that would have made it more expensive.

With added black pepper and a salad, this could make for a quick dinner.

3/5

ASDA

400g, £1.94

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This dish is made with mature cheddar and ricotta, an Irish cheese in Italian style. This is not a real version, but it offers a similar taste to parmesan at a lower price.

The taste is decent. You can see pieces of black pepper, an important part of the recipe. However, the double cream is unnecessary, the pasta is average, and the meat flavor is lacking.

This is well-suited for freezing.

2/5

CO-OP

400g, £4.25

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This option does not resemble the real recipe at all. It should be called "creamy pasta" at best.

A mix of cheeses with unknown fat content is used here.

Oddly enough, they added crème fraîche. The taste is authentic but too floury, and the pasta is too soft for the sauce.

The price is also inflated for such quality.

2/5

M&S ALLA ROMANA

400g, £6

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This option is the most expensive but the only one that truly meets the original recipe.

It contains delicious Calabrian pork cheeks (guanciale), egg yolks, and tasty Italian parmesan. It really tastes like authentic carbonara.

However, it is important to follow the instructions closely, as water must be added during the process, otherwise, you can get a look resembling scrambled eggs on pasta.

5/5

LIDL’S CHEF SELECT

400g, £2.49

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This dish smells like real carbonara. It has parmesan, but it is mixed with cheddar and Irish ricotta.

The price of this dish is impressive.

After reheating, the taste is more cheesy than meaty. While more meat would have been appropriate, overall for the price, it is not bad.

4/5

TESCO TASTE OF ITALY

400g, £3.50

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There is so much liquid here that a spoon seems necessary.

Tomato bacon sounds appetizing, but in reality, the taste is not very expressive, sometimes there's a burnt flavor.

The sauce is almost transparent, and the pasta has a grayish tint, but it smells fine.

I can't taste any black pepper or cheese, although it states that cheddar is included in the ingredients.

Add plenty of black pepper and some extra cheese, and it's quite edible.

2/5

For lovers of carbonara, this testing of ready-made supermarket options shows a variety of flavors and styles. Many options, especially cheaper ones, do not adhere to the classic Italian recipe, instead offering simplified alternatives. At the same time, a proper approach to cooking the dish can reveal tasty options that remind of the original.