Cacio e Pepe

Ingredients

• 1 (5 ounce) box Cappello’s Spaghetti
• 1 ½ teaspoons whole black peppercorns, crushed with a mortar and pestle
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon salted butter
• 2 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese, finely grated
• 1 fresh egg yolk (optional)

Instructions

• Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Rinse spaghetti with lukewarm water and set aside.
• In a small skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the crushed peppercorns and cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat, then transfer to a large bowl.
• Transfer the pasta to the bowl with the peppercorn oil, and add 2 tablespoons of the pasta water (reserve the remaining cooking water). Toss the pasta until coated. Let cool slightly, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the cheese to the pasta, tossing well and adding a more of the reserved pasta water, a few tablespoons at a time, until the pasta is coated in a thick creamy sauce.
• Serve hot topped with a raw egg yolk. Stir into pasta table side, so hot pasta cooks the egg.

Additional Info

• Yield: 2 servings
• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Total time: 25 minutes