3-Ingredient Cacio e Pepe Recipe: The Pasta Recipe You've Heard About by 30Seconds Food

Went Viral Pasta Dinner
11 months ago

3-Ingredient Cacio e Pepe Recipe: The Pasta Recipe You've Heard About

Cacio e pepe literally means "cheese and pepper." The creamy, delicious Italian pasta dish, which originated in Rome, Italy, is like a simplistic version of our macaroni and cheese. Well, kind of.

Classic cacio e pepe is made with pasta (usually spaghetti noodles), grated Pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper. That's it! While some cacio e pepe recipes call for cream and butter, it's not really necessary – and this three-ingredient cacio e pepe recipe proves that. Italian food lover Pina Bresciani went viral on TikTok with her three-ingredient cacio e pepe recipe. Here's the pasta recipe so you can enjoy it tonight.

Serve this quick Italian dish with a salad and garlic bread. 

Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces spaghetti noodles
  • 1/2 tablespoon whole black peppercorns, ground
  • 2 1/2 cups Pecorino Romano, finely grated

Here's how to make it:

  1. Cook the spaghetti noodles in salted, boiling water for half of the time stated on the box. Drain and reserve about 2 cups of the pasta water. 
  2. Put 1 1/2 teaspoons of the ground peppercorns into a dry skillet over medium heat. Cook for 1 minute. 
  3. Add about 1/2 cup of the pasta water to the skillet and stir. Add the spaghetti noodles and continue to cook, stirring, adding more pasta water as needed, until they are al dente. 
  4. Combine the cheese and about 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Mix with a fork until a paste-like consistency forms. 
  5. Remove the pasta from the heat. Stir in the cheese mixture and toss to combine. Continue stirring until it is clump free and creamy. Serve with additional black pepper and cheese.

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Tribe
This sounds crazy good.
Cassiday
Yummy idea and so easy too! 😋
Elisa Schmitz
Easy and delicious. Sign me up! #yum

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