Cacio e Pepe

Here’s my recipe for a super creamy and flavorful cacio e pepe. You’ll only need 3 ingredients: pici, tonnarelli, or spaghetti, aged Pecorino Romano cheese, and whole black peppercorns!
Cacio e Pepe
Here’s my recipe for a super creamy and flavorful cacio e pepe. You’ll only need 3 ingredients: pici, tonnarelli, or spaghetti, aged Pecorino Romano cheese, and whole black peppercorns!
Cooking Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. I use less salt because Pecorino is already salty.
- 2
Use a mortar and pestle or a food processor to coarsely grind the peppercorns.
- 3
Finely grate the Pecorino Romano cheese.
- 4
Toast the ground pepper in a skillet for a few minutes. When it becomes fragrant, add 4 ladlefuls of pasta cooking water.
- 5
A white foam will form thanks to the starches from the pasta.
- 6
In a bowl, mix the Pecorino with one ladleful of pasta water to make a thick paste. It should not be runny. Set aside.
- 7
Reserve some pasta water before draining, in case you need it later. When the pici are al dente, transfer them to the skillet with the pepper over high heat and continue cooking. Add more pasta water as needed until the pasta is ready.
- 8
Add the Pecorino mixture and stir until it melts and forms a creamy sauce.
- 9
Serve immediately, topped with extra freshly ground black pepper and more Pecorino to taste.
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