Cacio e Pepe (cheese & pepper pasta)

Cacio e Pepe (cheese & pepper pasta) is a delicious and versatile pasta dish. It’s light enough to be served as a side, yet fulfilling enough to be served as a main dish. Cacio e Pepe is surprisingly creamy, without any added cream. It’s amazing what warm pasta cooking water and cheese does in making a sauce! Delicious! We love spice, so I added the *optional red pepper flakes and some extra fresh cracked pepper upon plating. Be warned that pepper can get a bit spicy, start small and add more to suit your taste. 

If you don’t own a zester/microplane, I highly recommend you add one to your utensil drawer. I use mine to grate parmesan cheese, zest citrus, garlic, and even chocolate.

Seriously delicious, right?

My version of Cacio e Pepe (cheese & pepper pasta) has been adapted from Bon Appetit.

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Cacio e Pepe (cheese & pepper pasta)

Author Joy in Every Season

Ingredients

• 1 # Bucatini Pasta
• 6 TBSP butter
• 3 cloves fresh garlic
• 2 tsp. fresh cracked pepper
• **optional** 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes more or less depending on your spice level
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated, I used my zester
• 1/2 cup Pecorino cheese freshly grated, I used my zester
• *Optional topping: 2 TBSP fresh chopped flat leaf parsley & extra freshly grated cheese
• **Reserve 1 cup of warm pasta cooking water**

Instructions

• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• While pasta is cooking, melt butter in large sauté pan over med/low heat. Add whole garlic cloves & pepper. Saute pepper and garlic on low for 2-3 minutes. Remove garlic.
• When pasta is finished cooking, scoop out 1 cup pasta water and set aside. Drain remaining pasta (do not rinse).
• To saute pan, add pasta, 3/4 cup pasta water. Using tongs, mix together.
• Add cheeses and continue to mix with tongs until cheese is melted and well combined. Add remaining pasta water if needed.
• Serve and top with fresh chopped parsley and extra grated cheese.

And because there’s no such thing as too many pasta recipes, here a few more for you to enjoy!

Baked Spaghetti & Meatballs 

Chicken Parmesan w/Penne Pasta

White Chicken Ravioli Bake (Mock Lasagna)