Description
Classic Italian pasta jamie oliver cacio e pepe blends pecorino romano and black pepper into a creamy roman delicacy. Chefs can recreate this simple yet luxurious dish with professional techniques and authentic ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 batch pici dough (can use egg tagliolini, bucatini, or spaghetti)
- 160 g (5.6 oz) unsalted butter
- 100 g (3.5 oz) parmesan, finely grated
- 4 tbsps freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Water Preparation: Bring a large pot of water to a vigorous boil, seasoning generously with kosher salt to infuse depth into the pasta.
- Pasta Cooking: Immerse pici pasta into the boiling water, cooking for 5-6 minutes until achieving a perfect al dente consistency with a slight bite.
- Sauce Foundation: In a separate pan, melt unsalted butter over medium heat, then reduce to low, grinding fresh black pepper directly into the melting butter to release its aromatic oils.
- Sauce Integration: Transfer pasta using a strainer directly into the butter sauce, retaining a cup of starchy pasta water to help create a luxurious, silky texture.
- Cheese Incorporation: Sprinkle finely grated parmesan over the hot pasta, allowing the residual heat to gently melt the cheese without immediate aggressive stirring.
- Final Fusion: Delicately toss pasta and sauce together, gradually adding reserved pasta water to achieve a glossy, smooth coating that clings perfectly to each pasta strand.
- Serving: Conduct a final seasoning check, adding salt and pepper as needed, then serve immediately while the dish radiates enticing warmth and flavor.
Notes
- Master Pasta Water: Save a cup of starchy water to transform sauce texture, ensuring silky smoothness without overwhelming the delicate flavor.
- Pepper Power: Freshly cracked black pepper is crucial; it infuses rich, aromatic warmth directly into melting butter for authentic Cacio e Pepe character.
- Cheese Melting Magic: Sprinkle parmesan gradually over hot pasta, letting residual heat gently melt cheese without aggressive stirring to maintain creamy consistency.
- Temperature Timing: Serve immediately while pasta remains hot to preserve optimal sauce texture and prevent separation of delicate ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 60 g
- Saturated Fat: 38 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg