What to CookItalian
A 5-Ingredient Pasta That Couldn't Be Simpler
by Leslie Stephens
• January 20, 2016
• 6 Comments
There are a lot of good reasons not to go to the grocery store: You worked late and just want to get home, gas is expensive and traffic is terrible, there are two feet of snow blocking your way out the front door. So don't—stay inside and make this pasta instead.
The best part about the five ingredients in this Cacio e Pepe are that they're all likely in your refrigerator. (Read: No need to run to the bodega or hop in your car!) With just eggs, pasta, butter, pepper, and Parmesan (okay, and salt), it's also one of the simplest recipes. Once you've cooked the pasta, just melt in the butter, then stir in the egg and pepper. Welcome to pasta heaven.
- Salt, to taste
- 12 ounces pasta (spaghetti or bucatini)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Asiago, as needed
- 1 egg yolk
Will you be making this tonight? Tell us in the comments below!
Comments (6)
Showing out of comments
This was AMAZING and so easy to make. Thanks for the recipe!
Traditionally cacio e pepe is spaghetti, pecorino romano & pepper.
Made it during our "Winter In One Day" storm. The bucatini glistened. Added shredded dried beef. Next time, crumbled bacon or sausage.
Is the egg raw? I thought that was risky these days. I've had pasta with just butter, cheese, pepper and a bit of cheese, and it's heavenly.
add bacon and you have Pasta carbonara - I used to make it for my kids with left over pasta the next morning before school - they loved it and now my older son cooks it for his pregnant gf. Cheap and satisfying.
Wish I had bacon instead of snow!
It actually could be simpler -- the recipe is typically made without egg or butter. It's just pasta, cheese and pepper, with salt for the pasta water.
Showing 6 out of 6 comments