Description
Ina Garten’s asparagus cacio e pepe elevates classic Italian pasta with fresh spring ingredients. Creamy pecorino and black pepper create a luxurious sauce that perfectly complements tender asparagus spears you will savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) freshly grated Italian Pecorino cheese
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) freshly grated Italian Parmesan cheese
- 1½ pounds (680 grams) thick asparagus spears
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter
- ½ lemon (juiced)
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fleur de sel or sea salt (for garnish)
Instructions
- Blanching: Bring a large pot of water to a vigorous boil, heavily seasoned with kosher salt. Trim asparagus spears, delicately peeling bottom 2 inches with a vegetable peeler. Submerge in boiling water for 3-4 minutes until crisp-tender, then rapidly cool in an ice bath to preserve vibrant color and texture.
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Transfer blanched asparagus to a baking dish, coating with melted butter and seasoning with kosher salt and ground black pepper. Arrange spears in an elegant, slightly overlapping formation.
- Cheese Topping: Lavishly sprinkle grated Pecorino and Parmesan cheeses over the asparagus, ensuring an even, generous coverage.
- Roasting: Place the cheese-covered asparagus in the preheated oven, roasting for 5 minutes until the cheese melts and develops a golden, crispy exterior.
- Finishing: Remove from oven and drizzle with fresh lemon juice. Garnish with a delicate sprinkle of fleur de sel or sea salt. Serve immediately while warm and aromatic.
Notes
- Blanch with Precision: Achieve the perfect al dente texture by timing the asparagus blanching exactly 3-4 minutes, then shock in ice water to stop cooking and preserve vibrant green color.
- Salt Matters: Generously season boiling water and final dish with kosher salt to enhance the vegetable’s natural flavor and elevate the overall taste profile.
- Cheese Selection Tip: Use freshly grated Pecorino and Parmesan for maximum flavor complexity and optimal melting performance.
- Oven Timing Crucial: Watch carefully during the 5-minute roasting to ensure cheese melts beautifully without burning, creating a golden crispy top.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 206
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 305 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg