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This healthier Cacio e PePe is easy, ready in about 20 minutes and will surprise your family and friends with classic Italian flavors. This is one of my personal favorite Italian dishes. I crave the simplicity of the minimal ingredients every time the weather cools down. My version is slightly healthier than the classic. I add lemon juice and garlic to brighten the dish a little. The way I prepare it requires less cheese with the same great flavor.
Why Make This Recipe.
This Cacio e PePe is easy. It is ready in under 20 minutes.
Minimal ingredients. This Cacio e PePe has very minimal ingredients and creates the perfect marriage for a creamy sauce.
Everyone loves this dish. This is a very popular recipe that most everyone loves (even kids!) Cheese, noodles and pepper are a perfect combo.
Recipe Ingredients.
Lemon. A tiny squeeze of lemon really brightens the flavors in this simple Italian dish. Most Cacio e PePe won’t call for lemon and it is certainly optional.
Pasta Water: This works as a nice binder/ thickener for pasta recipes. The starchy water helps a silkyness to sauces.
Pecorino Romano. This cheese is my favorite of all cheeses. It is salty and nutty in flavor.
Olive Oil. You want to use a high quality non bitter olive oil. Some olive oils have a bitterness that will ruin the flavors so be sure to taste test the oil before hand.
How To Make This Recipe.
Step 1: Cook your pasta! As mentioned my version of Cacio e PePe is slightly different than the classic. You will mix together the lemon juice, olive oil garlic, pepper, salt in a small bowl. You will pour leftover pasta water into the mixture to loosen it up and give it more flavor.
Step 2: Whisk together well and pour over your al dente noodles. Al dente means cooked to be slightly still firm when bitten into. I don’t like to overcook my pasta because it tends to fall apart.
Step 3: Add in shredded Pecorino Romano and stir well.
You can eat this pasta on it’s own or top it with fresh sautéed scallops or chicken breast.
Other Recipes To Try.
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Cacio e PePe
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked pasta
- 1 cup pecorino
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup pasta water
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- ¼ tsp salt, more to taste if needed
- ½ tsp fresh cracked pepper
- 1 tsp fresh parsley for color
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
