In traditional Roman *Spaghetti alla Carbonara*, what provides the creamy texture?
Answer
Emulsifying the egg and cheese with starchy pasta water
The creamy texture in authentic Carbonara is achieved by emulsifying the egg and cheese with the hot, starchy water used to cook the pasta, not by using actual cream.

Related Questions
Which dish, popular in America, does not exist as a unified concept in traditional Italian cooking?What forms the foundation of celebrated Italian gastronomy?What common rule of thumb do Italians often cite regarding cheese consumption with seafood?In traditional Roman *Spaghetti alla Carbonara*, what provides the creamy texture?With which wide, flat pasta shape do locals in Bologna insist Ragù alla Bolognese must be served?Which staple food is most prominent in Northern Italy, especially in regions where cultivation is significant?What is the expectation regarding the interior doneness of Tuscany's *Bistecca alla Fiorentina*?Why are *Orecchiette* pasta shapes from Puglia functionally distinctive?How does authentic Italian gelato primarily achieve its characteristic dense mouthfeel compared to standard ice cream?What action gives the beverage Espresso its name?What Sicilian street food is an iconic example of *cucina povera* due to its resourceful rice-based filling?