
Three-Pepper Cacio e Pepe
Recipe from Food and Wine
Ingredients
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3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
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1 teaspoon crushed pink peppercorns
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1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground Tellicherry pepper
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1/2 teaspoon ground Szechuan pepper
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12 oz. uncooked fusilli col buco pasta or bucatini pasta
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1 1/2 oz. pecorino Romano cheese, grated with a microplane grater
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1 1/2 oz. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated with a microplane grater
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Instructions
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Heat oil, pink peppercorns, Tellicherry pepper, and Szechuan pepper in a large skillet over medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until peppercorns begin to sizzle and darken, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
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Prepare pasta in a pot according to package directions for al dente. Using tongs or a spider, transfer pasta to a colander to drain, reserving cooking liquid in pot. Let pasta stand for 2 minutes.
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Working off of heat, add cheeses and 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid to peppercorn mixture in skillet, whisking until water in absorbed and mixture resembles consistency of a chunky paste. Add an additional 1/4 cup cooking liquid, whisking until mixture is thick and mostly smooth. Add drained pasta to mixture; working quickly, vigorously stir until cheese mixture coats pasta, about 30 seconds. Gradually stir in 1/2 cup cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time, until a creamy sauce forms and coats the pasta, 20 to 40 seconds for each addition. Divide pasta mixture among four bowls; garnish with additional pecorino Romano. Serve immediately.
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Enjoy!