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Creamy Italian Cacio e Pepe Pasta Recipe Easy Classic Roman Delight

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A simple yet luxurious Roman pasta dish featuring creamy Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly cracked black pepper, perfect for quick and comforting dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces spaghetti or tonarelli pasta
  • 1 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese (about 80 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (or extra virgin olive oil for a lighter touch)
  • Salt for pasta water
  • About 1 cup reserved pasta cooking water (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt (about 15 grams) and the pasta. Cook according to package instructions until just shy of al dente — about 8-9 minutes for spaghetti or tonarelli. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, toast the black pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the freshly cracked black pepper and toast for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant and slightly darker.
  3. Add butter to the skillet with the pepper. Stir until melted and combined. Lower heat to keep the mixture warm but not hot enough to burn the butter.
  4. Drain pasta, reserving the cooking water. Add pasta directly to the skillet with butter and pepper. Toss to coat the strands evenly in the pepper butter.
  5. Remove the pan from heat and sprinkle in the grated Pecorino Romano gradually, tossing constantly. Add reserved pasta water in small increments (about ¼ cup at a time) to help the cheese melt and form a smooth, creamy sauce. Stir and toss vigorously to avoid clumps. The sauce should be silky and coat the pasta beautifully.
  6. Adjust seasoning. Taste and add extra pepper or a pinch of salt if needed. Serve immediately while warm and creamy.

Notes

Use finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese for a smooth sauce. Reserve pasta water to emulsify the sauce and prevent clumping. Toast black pepper to enhance flavor. Mix cheese off the heat to avoid clumping. Adjust sauce thickness with pasta water or extra cheese as needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: cacio e pepe, creamy pasta, Italian pasta recipe, Roman pasta, Pecorino Romano, black pepper pasta, easy pasta recipe

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