Cacio e Pepe Pasta (Printable)

Creamy Roman pasta with sharp Pecorino and aromatic black pepper creates this luxurious 25-minute dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 7 oz spaghetti or tonnarelli

→ Cheese & Seasoning

02 - 2.8 oz Pecorino Romano cheese, finely grated
03 - 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
04 - 1/2 tsp salt for pasta water

→ Other

05 - 4 cups water

# Directions:

01 - Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add salt and stir until dissolved.
02 - Add spaghetti to the boiling water and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
03 - While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add freshly ground black pepper and toast for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly.
04 - Pour 1/2 cup of the reserved hot pasta water into the skillet with the toasted pepper. Let simmer for 30 seconds to infuse the flavors.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine grated Pecorino Romano with 2-3 tablespoons of hot pasta water. Mix vigorously with a fork until a thick, smooth paste forms.
06 - Transfer cooked spaghetti to the skillet with the pepper infusion. Toss well using tongs to coat evenly. Remove from heat immediately.
07 - Gradually add the cheese paste to the pasta, tossing quickly and continuously. Add more reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a silky, creamy sauce that clings to each strand.
08 - Plate the pasta while steaming hot. Top with additional grated Pecorino Romano and a generous sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper.

# Cooking Tips:

01 -
  • You probably have everything in your kitchen right now, making it perfect for impromptu dinner cravings
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something from a high-end trattoria
  • The technique you learn here will transform how you make all simple pasta dishes going forward
02 -
  • If your cheese sauce starts to look grainy or oily, immediately remove the pan from heat and whisk in another splash of pasta water
  • The entire final assembly must happen off the heat or the cheese will separate into an unappealing mess
03 -
  • Use a mortar and pestle to crack your peppercorns before toasting for more surface area and better flavor extraction
  • Room temperature cheese incorporates more easily than cold cheese, so take it out of the fridge while you prep

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