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A steaming bowl of authentic cacio e pepe pasta with freshly cracked black pepper.

Proven way to grow 6 perfect Cacio e Pepe

This recipe provides a step-by-step guide to making six perfect servings of Cacio e Pepe, a classic Roman pasta dish. It focuses on achieving a creamy sauce with a peppery kick.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 500 g Spaghetti or Tonnarelli
Cheese
  • 200 g Pecorino Romano finely grated
Pepper
  • 15 g Black peppercorns freshly cracked
Other
  • Salt for pasta water

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Skillet
  • Grater
  • Tongs

Method
 

Cooking Pasta
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the spaghetti or tonnarelli according to package directions until al dente.
Preparing Pepper
  1. While the pasta cooks, toast the freshly cracked black peppercorns in a dry skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
Making the Sauce Base
  1. Remove about 1.5 cups of pasta cooking water just before draining the pasta, then drain the pasta.
Combining for the Sauce
  1. Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the toasted pepper. Gradually add 1 cup of the reserved pasta water, stirring continuously to create a starchy base.
Achieving Creaminess
  1. Remove the skillet from the heat. In a bowl, combine the grated Pecorino Romano with a splash of the remaining pasta water to form a thick paste. Add this cheese paste to the pasta, tossing vigorously and adding more pasta water a tablespoon at a time until a creamy sauce forms and coats the pasta.
Serving
  1. Serve immediately, garnished with extra cracked black pepper and Pecorino Romano if desired.

Notes

The key to a truly creamy Cacio e Pepe is the combination of starchy pasta water and finely grated Pecorino Romano, which emulsify to create a luscious sauce. Do not rinse the pasta after draining, as the residual starch is crucial for the sauce. Adjust the amount of pasta water as needed to reach your desired consistency.