The pork is cooked in fat, which may be olive oil, lard, or less frequently butter.[4] The hot pasta is combined with a mixture of raw eggs, cheese, and a fat (butter, olive oil, or rarely cream)[2] away from additional direct heat to avoid coagulating the egg, either in the pasta pot or in a serving dish. The eggs should create a creamy sauce, and not curdle.[1][3][4][5] Guanciale is the most commonly used meat in Italy, but pancetta[6][7] and local bacon are also used.[8][9] Recipes differ in the use of egg: some use the whole egg, others only the yolk, some a mixture.[10]
Cream is not common in Italian recipes but is often used elsewhere.[8][9][11][12] Garlic is similarly found mostly outside Italy.[4]