The Easiest Homemade Cacio e Pepe Recipe

Besides going to my classes I have been doing little to nothing during this quarantine. I’m getting more bored every day, struggling to find activities besides laying in bed. I’ve decided to start cooking and have been making dinner for my family every night. One fan favorite was a Cacio e Pepe recipe I found from the mouthwatering Instagram, @thesecarbsdontcount. The recipe was simple and delicious. Plus, it reminded me of my favorite restaurant, Josephine Estelle, in the magical city of New Orleans. 

Cacio e Pepe

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 10 minutesCook time: 15 minutesTotal time: 25 minutesServings:1 servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups pasta
• 1.5 teaspoons pepper
• 1.5 cups pecorino cheese
• 1 cup reserved pasta water
• parmesan cheese optional
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

1. 
   

   Grate cheese if necessary and gather ingredients

2. 
   

   Cook pasta according to instructions and remember to save a cup of pasta water for later

3. 
   

   Add oil to the pan on medium heat

4. 
   

   Add pepper to oil and let cook for a few minutes

5. 
   

   Add pasta to the oil and pepper, as well as half of the reserved water and let it simmer

6. 
   

   Once the majority of the water has dissolved, turn the heat to low, add pecorino (and parmesan if desired) cheese and the remainder of pasta water and mix until silky

7. 
   

   Put it in a bowl and sprinkle more cheese on if desired

• < 20 Minutes
• < 5 Ingredients
• Dinner