Name: Cacio e Pepe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2 plates
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 0.5 lb tonnarelli pasta; Salt; 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns; 1.25 cups Pecorino Romano PDO cheese; 0.5 cup reserved pasta water

From the Cook

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Cacio e Pepe

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Cacio e Pepe

½ lb tonnarelli pastaor spaghetti

Salt

1 tbsp whole black peppercorns

1 ¼ cups Pecorino Romano PDO cheesefinely grated

½ cup reserved pasta waterplus more as needed

Instructions

In a dry skillet over medium-low heat, toast the whole peppercorns until aromatic (about 2–3 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool.

Crush the peppercorns using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder until coarsely ground.

In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve at least 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water, then drain the pasta.

In a heat-safe bowl, mix grated Pecorino Romano with the ground pepper. Slowly add a few tablespoons of hot pasta water, stirring constantly to form a smooth, thick paste.

Return drained pasta to a warm skillet off the heat. Add the cheese-pepper mixture and toss to coat the noodles evenly.

Add small splashes of pasta water as needed while tossing until the sauce is glossy and fully coats the pasta.

Serve immediately, topped with additional Pecorino Romano and a sprinkle of ground black pepper.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Peppercorn Toasting Technique 🌶️
Toast whole black peppercorns in a dry pan until fragrant to release their essential oils and maximize their smoky, intense flavor before grinding.
Pasta Water Emulsion Magic 💧
Reserve at least 1 cup of starchy pasta water and add it gradually off the heat, whisking continuously to create a silky, clump-free sauce that perfectly coats the pasta.
Cheese Grating Precision 🧀
Grate Pecorino Romano freshly and finely using a microplane for the smoothest texture, ensuring it melts quickly and evenly into the pasta.
Temperature Control Mastery 🔥
Work quickly off direct heat when combining cheese and pasta water to prevent the cheese from seizing or becoming grainy, creating a creamy, luxurious sauce.
Authentic Pasta Selection 🍝
Use traditional tonnarelli or thick spaghetti with high starch content to help create the perfect sauce, and cook just shy of al dente to finish cooking in the cheese mixture.