Easy Homemade Cacio E Pepe
They say it’s the simple things in life that make it worth living.
So, when you find a simple recipe for homemade Cacio E Pepe, you know it’s going to be worth a try!
If you find yourself scrolling through videos and photos of irresistible food online regularly, odds are you’ve come across the viral sensation that is Cacio E Pepe. While it didn't start on Tik Tok, rather it is noted to have been enjoyed for centuries, the app did introduce a lot of people to the dish. In fact, the #cacioepepe tag on Tik Tok has reached over 199.4 million views at the time of this blog! The dish garnered particular interest from users of the app after Tik Toker Gabby Eniclerico shared a video raving about Trader Joe’s Cacio E Pepe Sauce. As with most trends, the subject of the viral video was sought after by many, and the sauce was cleared from store shelves quickly, leaving a lot of us Cacio E Pepe-less.
Fortunately, for those that weren’t able to get ahold of the viral sauce, Table & Thyme is excited to share our recipe for easy homemade Cacio E Pepe!
How to Make Homemade Cacio E Pepe
It is quite remarkable how something so exquisite can be made with only a few simple ingredients. To make yourself an inviting plate of creamy Cacio E Pepe, grab some long and thin pasta, such as bucatini or spaghetti, unsalted butter, freshly cracked black pepper, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
By far the most time-consuming step in this recipe is cooking the pasta, which is why it is best to get it out of the way first. Bring a large pot filled with water to a boil and cook your pasta until al dente. Some people swear by sprinkling salt into the water with the pasta, and it is definitely an authentic touch, so why not?
Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and keep at least a cup of pasta water set aside to prevent the pasta from getting too dry later on. The noodles don’t need to be rinsed or cooled off since they will be set aside for a few minutes.
Next, get the sauce started! Melt a few tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat and add the fresh pepper. Continue to cook the butter and pepper for about a minute before adding a small amount of pasta water to the skillet. And then, bring everything to a simmer.
Add the pasta into the skillet and top with the grated Parmesan cheese. Stir and toss the pasta to melt the cheese and create a creamy, delicious sauce. If you notice the sauce being too thick to spread evenly, add small amounts of the reserved pasta water until it becomes creamier.
The pasta should not need long to cook, so once the cheese has melted into the sauce, plate up your pasta and give it one final sprinkle of freshly cracked pepper!
Table & Thyme’s Homemade Cacio E Pepe Recipe
Get lost in the delicious flavors of this simple dish that has graced dinner tables with its creamy cheesiness (and a hint of pepper) for centuries!
Ingredients
- 6 ounces of pasta bucatini or spaghetti
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
- 1 cup Parmesan, grated
Directions
- Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a steady boil over medium-high heat. Sprinkle salt into the water and add the pasta into the boiling water.
- Allow the pasta to cook until al dente before draining and setting aside. Reserve at least 1 cup of the pasta water for later use.
- In a large skillet, melt 2 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Then, add the pepper and cook for around 1 minute or until toasted.
- Slowly pour in some of the reserved pasta water, about ½ cup at first, into the skillet. Bring the water, butter, and pepper to a simmer, and add the cooked pasta and the remaining butter.
- Bring the heat down to low and add the Parmesan, making sure to stir and mix so the pasta is completely covered. If the pasta seems dry, slowly add small amounts of the pasta water to make it creamier.
- Remove the pasta from the skillet, sprinkle with fresh pepper, and enjoy!
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