Cacio e Pepe (Print Version)

Experience a classic Roman pasta, featuring bold Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly cracked black pepper. Simple ingredients, incredible flavor.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz spaghetti or tonnarelli

→ Cheese

02 - 4.2 oz Pecorino Romano cheese, finely grated

→ Seasonings

03 - 2 tsp whole black peppercorns, freshly cracked
04 - 1 tsp kosher salt for pasta water

→ Optional

05 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter for extra creaminess

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt, then cook the spaghetti until just al dente (about 1 minute less than package instructions). Reserve 1½ cups of pasta cooking water before draining.
02 - While the pasta cooks, toast the freshly cracked black pepper in a large, dry skillet over medium heat for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
03 - Add 1 cup of reserved hot pasta water to the skillet with the pepper. Reduce heat to low.
04 - Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat, allowing the pasta to absorb some peppery water.
05 - Remove the skillet from the heat. Gradually sprinkle in the Pecorino Romano, tossing and stirring vigorously to create a creamy sauce. Add more reserved pasta water, a splash at a time, if the sauce is too thick.
06 - If desired, add butter and toss until melted and emulsified.
07 - Serve immediately, topped with extra Pecorino Romano and more cracked black pepper.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You probably have everything in your kitchen right now
  • It comes together in literally 25 minutes from start to finish
  • The technique looks impressive but feels like a warm hug
02 -
  • The pasta must be off the heat when adding cheese or it will seize into clumps
  • Room temperature cheese incorporates more smoothly than cold from the fridge
03 -
  • Use a wooden spoon or tongs to toss the pasta for better leverage
  • If your sauce breaks, add a tiny splash more pasta water and keep tossing off the heat
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