Description
Cacio e Pepe is a simple yet flavorful pasta dish featuring bucatini, pecorino romano, and black pepper. This easy recipe is perfect for a quick dinner or a satisfying comfort meal that brings authentic Italian flavors to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 cups (3 quarts / 2.8 l) water
- 1 tsp (3 g) kosher salt
- 8 oz (227 g) bucatini pasta
- 2 tsps (5 g) whole black peppercorns
- 2 cups (~180 g) pecorino romano cheese finely grated
- ½ cup (120 ml) reserved pasta water plus 1-2 tbsps (15-30 ml) if needed
- 2 tbsps (28 g) unsalted butter
Instructions
- Bring 12 cups of water to a boil in a large pot or skillet. Add kosher salt and stir to dissolve. Cook bucatini, stirring frequently, until barely tender, about 1-2 minutes less than package directions.
- Heat a dry skillet over medium heat, add whole black peppercorns, and toast for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Crush coarsely in a mortar and pestle, leaving some visible pieces.
- Finely grate the Pecorino Romano cheese and set it aside.
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add crushed black pepper and stir briefly. Pour in the reserved pasta water and whisk together.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of grated Pecorino Romano into the skillet, stirring until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
- Transfer drained bucatini into the skillet. Toss to coat in the cheese mixture. Add remaining Pecorino Romano and continue tossing until the sauce is creamy. If needed, add extra hot pasta water, one tablespoon at a time.
- Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Pecorino Romano and freshly cracked black pepper.
Notes
Make sure to reserve some pasta water before draining for a creamy sauce.
Adjust the amount of pepper according to your taste preference. You can use freshly cracked pepper for more flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 1500 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 80 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg