Cacio e Pepe
Cacio e Pepe is the ultimate minimalist pasta, just 4 ingredients and 20 minutes stand between you and cheesy, peppery perfection. No cream, no oil, just pure Roman comfort food done right.
Servings: 3
Calories: 609kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta such as bucatini or spaghetti
- 4 tablespoon butter unsalted, cubed
- 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 1½ cups Pecorino Romano freshly grated, or substitute with Parmesan or Grana Padano
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it generously (at least 1 to 2 tablespoons). Add the pasta and cook until just barely al dente, you want a slight bite, as it’ll cook a bit more in the sauce. Before draining, reserve 1 to 1½ cups of pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the black pepper and sauté for 1 minute, this “blooms” the pepper and gives the sauce more depth. Add 1 cup of reserved pasta water to the skillet and stir to combine. The mixture will bubble up, just stir and remove from heat.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with about 1 cup of the grated cheese. Toss everything together vigorously, adding more pasta water as needed to create a smooth, glossy sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and more pepper to taste.
Video
Notes
- Use Pecorino Romano if you can: It’s salty, sharp, and gives the best bite. Parmesan works in a pinch, but grate it fresh!
- Grind that pepper fresh: Pre-ground won’t give you the bold flavor or the texture that makes this dish sing.
- Toss off the heat: Cheese + too much heat = grainy disaster. Turn off the burner and toss like a pro.
- Don’t forget the pasta water: It's your sauce’s secret weapon. Add it little by little to get that glossy finish.
- Serve it right away: This pasta waits for no one. It’s at its peak the second it hits the plate.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 609kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 607mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 678IU | Calcium: 555mg | Iron: 1mg
