Secret Ingredient Cacio e Pepe
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A Note from Feedfeed
Kelly Senyei, aka @justataste has the most amazing, simple cacio e pepe method that's nearly impossible to mess up! The pasta is rich, creamy, and decadent. This recipe is from Kelly's cookbook: "The Secret Ingredient Cookbook." The secret ingredient in this recipe is lemon, which gives a wonderful bright acidity to the dish!
- Recipe Card
From "The Secret Ingredient Cookbook" - "Cacio e pepe was one of the first dishes I ever mastered. It has become a dinnertime staple because it's quick, affordable, and easily topped with whatever protein I have on hand, from grilled chicken to fried eggs. Freshly grating the cheese is essential so that all it takes is a bit of hot pasta water to yield a silky-smooth sauce. Add some citrus to the mix and this lemony, peppery, adult version of buttered noodles will be on your table in 25 minutes or less.
Recipe Card
ingredients
- 1 pound uncooked pasta, such as bucatini or spaghetti
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Method
Step 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, 10 to 12 minutes, or according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
Step 2
Heat the butter in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the black pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water and cook for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and quickly whisk in the Parmesan and Pecorino one third at a time, then whisk in the lemon zest and lemon juice.
Step 3
Add half of the pasta to the saucepan and toss to combine with the sauce, then add the remaining pasta and continue tossing until it is well coated. If the sauce becomes too thick at any point, stir in the remaining pasta water, 2 tablespoons at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. Serve immediately.