Cacio e Pepe

Cacio e Pepe (serves 2)

Cacio e Pepe simply means "cheese and pepper" in Italian. Unsurprisingly, this is a very simple dish that requires very little time to prepare.

This recipe is slightly modified from Delish.

Ingredients:

200g of pasta

2 tablespoons of butter

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

0.75 cup of parmesan or pecorino cheese, or a combination of both

Freshly grated black pepper
Sea salt

Instructions:

1) Boil the pasta according to the instructions on the pasta packet. Reserve 2/3 cup of pasta water.

2) In a skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and 1 (not 2) tablespoon of butter. Add black pepper liberally and mix everything for around 1 minute.

3) Add 1/3 cup of pasta water. When it starts to simmer, add in the remaining butter and pasta, then mix well.

4) Add the cheese and toss. It will be good to taste it first, as some cheeses may not be salty enough. If the dish tastes a bit bland, add some grated sea salt and continue tossing.

5) Turn off the heat when approximately half the cheese has melted, and serve.