Cacio e Pepe
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Cacio e pepe, a classic Italian dish, relies on starchy pasta cooking water to form a creamy emulsion with butter and cheese, often Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Romano, and it couldn’t be more delicious or simple. I like simple right now.
This one comes from YouTube star Laura Vitale, and her cookbook, Laura in the Kitchen, which is filled with recipes influenced by her southern Italian roots, and most especially, her nonna, who makes many a guest appearance on her show: Nonna’s stuffed peppers, Nonna’s stuffed calamari, Nonna’s spaghetti and clams. When Laura felt homesick after moving to the US at age 12, her nonna told her to “cook a pot of sauce,” which she did, and which instantly made her feel better. She’s been cooking ever since, and in 2009 launched her YouTube show, Laura in the Kitchen, which now includes over 850 cooking tutorials.
UPDATE: GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED: I have emailed you: Peg, Aaron, Peter, Anne and Nancy. Clarkson Potter generously passed along 5 copies of Laura in the Kitchen for the giveaway! Leave a comment to enter. Tell me your favorite easy thing to make right now.
Cacio e Pepe
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
Source: Laura in the Kitchen by Laura Vitale
Note: I salted the water with 2 teaspoons of kosher salt because I was nervous about the finished dish being too salty since you use 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. I added more salt to taste at the end.
Ingredients
- 12 oz. dried spaghetti or linguini
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- 1 teaspoon freshly crack black pepper or more or less to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted (see notes above) water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook 2 minutes fewer than the package recommends. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water.
- Return the starchy cooking water to the pot. Add the butter and cheeses and cook over low heat until butter melts and cheese and water emulsify into a sauce. Add the pasta and pepper and toss to coat. Taste, adding more salt and pepper to taste. Remove pan from heat. Cover. Let stand for 1 minute, then serve.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
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144 Comments on “Cacio e Pepe”
Favorite simple thing these days = Marcella Hazan’s simple tomato sauce. The recipe today seems like just the ticket for tonigh, though! 🙂
This book has been on my wish list! Nothing beats simple, homemade food using high quality ingredients. My go-to simple dish is tacos, using up whatever is in the fridge!
I just love a fried egg on wilted greens.
Right now, homemade pasta because I’m obsessing over it! Pictures are amazing…tiny blond faerie eating the pasta? Astonishingly and magically beautiful…❤️?????????❤️
Yellow and white eggs over grated cheese, sprinkled with Cajun seasoning or fresh ground pepper. Yum!
Lentils and rice….so warm and comforting
I sauté pancetta,onions and a little red pepper flakes with cauliflower or broccoli and add pasta with a little cooking water and parmesan. Sometimes Iwill add shrimp to this,
Love that it looks like the little one is in charge of meal prep — must be simple! Our go-to easy meal currently is lentil, bean, leftover meat, egg, etc. over top of jumbo sweet potato halves.
A big hit in our house lately is the “Blitz Bread” from King Arthur Flour. They describe it as a “No-Fuss Focaccia.” It takes less than an hour from start to finish; all the ingredients are mixed in one bowl for one minute, and it rises and bakes in a 9×13 pan. Really easy, and good, too.
Radishes sliced thin with room temperature Brie and an Ice cold beer.
I LOVE pasta. My go to since college has been penne with a splash of lemon juice, olive oil, salt, Italian spice medley (or whatever I’ve got on hand), and a little cayenne. Delicioso.
Roasted vegetables, tasty, plus they are healthy too!
Buttered toast with peanut-butter and bacon.
It’s not just for breakfast anymore.
May I indulge in an off topic post? I saw that someone named Vicki posted. That name made me want to share my recipe. I was married to a Vicki for 32 years. I’ve been widowed for 3 years now. It is a thrill to see “Vicki says” and “Ted says” again.
My favorite quick prep is similar to recipe above – Linguini Carbonara. Ready in as long as it takes to prepare the pasta.
I like to cook anything pasta. I try new recipes every week.
breakfast for dinner–eggs or pancakes or leftover oatmeal or just a bowl of cereal
I like the taste tester pictures the best!
Definitely Mark Bittman’s Beans Rancheros, which is basically black beans mashed up with some diced tomatoes and cumin (red pepper flake, chipotle in adobo or jalapeno for heat), and baked for about 20 minutes. I usually crack a few eggs into it, and throw it back in the oven for 20 more minutes. Top with feta, queso blanco, or whatever is on hand…a squeeze of lime, and a sprinkle of cilantro. It takes about 10 minutes of prep work for a really rewarding result.
its wet and cold in northern California Soup is my go to fast and easy. Cream of potato soup and some good chewy bread and we are happy
Soba noodle stir fry is my jam right now!
My favorite simple dish IS cacio e pepe! Glad I now have a new method to try out 🙂
Weird throwback casseroles, but replacing the canned ingredients with fresh ones! Made a egg, salsa, tortilla casserole.
My two favorite quick/easy dinners are shakshuka and salmon chowder. We have a habit of over-buying red peppers which make their way into the shakshuka, and I’ve begun hoarding leftover salmon fillet in the freezer until there’s enough for a pot of chowder.
My current favorite for easy recipe is my friend Alice’s baked cod with olive topping (https://hipfoodiemom.com/2015/11/30/baked-cod-with-olive-topping/). So quick and tasty! I’ve also been loving the easy weeknight dinner series by Anna Watson Carl (https://www.delish.com/author/11827/anna-watson-carl/).
Fried egg sandwich on my husbands homemade rustic bread!
Scrambled egg toast is quick and satisfying
My go to simple appetizer sounds odd but really works:
Slice a baguette lengthwise and smear on some homemade guacamole;
add slices of brie and top with roasted red peppers; put bread in a 300 degree oven until the brie melts. Very yummy.
My favorite simple meal right now is pasta alla Norma. Easy roasted eggplant mixed into a simply homemade tomato sauce. So good and easy! I put that sauce on pasta, rice, quinoa or with just crusty bread ?
My favorite quick pasta is shells with white beans, tuna and cherry tomatoes.