My kids grew up loving a good carbonara, the ultimate comfort food that’s crossed national boundaries to become one of the world’s most popular recipes. In a paean to Greek-Italian friendship, I’ve taken a few liberties with this version, and use Grecian Delight ready-to-eat gyro slices instead of the more classic bacon. Dare I call it…Gyronara?
1 ½cupsgrated Greek kefalotyri or kefalograviera cheeseor parmesan
4tablespoonsVrisi 36 extra virgin Greek olive oil
1teaspoondried wild Greek oregano
Pepper to taste
Instructions
Defrost the gyro and coarsely chop.
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, add 2 heaping tablespoons of salt and then add the pasta. Boil as per package directions until al dent.
While the pasta is boiling, gently heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook the chopped gyro slices until warmed through.
In a bowl large enough to serve the pasta in, whisk the egg with 1 cup of the grated cheese until thick.
Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of its cooking liquid. Toss the pasta with the egg-cheese mixture, the warm chopped gyro, the remaining olive oil, and enough of the cooking liquid to make the pasta creamy. Serve and sprinkle with remaining cheese and pepper as desired.