Cacio e Pepe
Italian · Western Europe
Top Pick
STOVETOP
9/10
Roman pasta with just Pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper, emulsified into a creamy sauce using starchy pasta water.
Why It Works
The starch in the pasta water emulsifies the cheese fat into a smooth sauce instead of clumping. Toasting the pepper blooms its volatile oils, amplifying flavor.
Key Ingredients
spaghetti or tonnarelli
Pecorino Romano
black pepper
pasta water
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