Orecchiette Cacio e Pepe 🧀

[laplus]

I found this bomb recipe for Orecchiette Cacio e Pepe and it's like a taste of Italy in yo' mouth! Lemme show you how to make it!

Ingredients

• 1 pound orecchiette pasta
• 2 cups Parmigiano-Reggiano fresh, fine-grated
• 1 ½ teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper plus more to garnish
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 quarts water

Instructions

1. Prepare all ingredients ahead of time!
2. Bring 4 quarts of water (not more) to a boil. Add the salt. Add pasta and cook for about 30 seconds less than the boil time for al dente.
3. With 3 minutes left of the pasta cooking time, in a separate large pot (not pan), add the black pepper. Toast the pepper in the dry pot for 2-3 minutes over medium heat until fragrant.
4. Reserve 1 ½ cups of the pasta water right before the pasta is done cooking.
5. Add 1 cup of the pasta water to the pot with the pepper.
6. Add drained pasta. Vigorously mix pasta into the peppery water for 1 minute over medium heat.
7. In a bowl, combine cheese and ½ cup pasta water until it’s as smooth as possible, to create a cheese “cream”.
8. Add half of the cheese cream to the pasta. Vigorously mix until combined over medium heat.
9. Add the rest of the cheese cream to the pasta over medium heat. Vigorously mix again, until it is creamy and uniform. You really want to put some muscle into it!
10. Serve right away, garnished with more black pepper and cheese.

Perfect for impressing or comforting Enjoy!

 

[Chiyah_]

This recipe looks fantastic! Question though - do you think 2 cups of cheese is a bit much? Maybe I'll start with 1.5 cups and add more to taste. Thanks for sharing this recipe!

 

[Nutellah_]

This looks amazing! Can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing!

 

[EvanSeeker]

Yum, orecchiette cacio e pepe! Such a classic and comforting dish. Can't wait to whip this up for dinner. Thanks for sharing the recipe!