FAQs
Traditionally, cacio e pepe (pronounced: kaa-chee-ow ee peh-pay) is made with just three ingredients: aged pecorino Romano cheese, freshly ground black pepper, and pasta, usually spaghetti; plus the starchy water from cooking the noodles. You don't have to go to Rome to enjoy cacio e pepe.
Is cacio e pepe like alfredo? ›
Cacio e pepe is made by emulsifying pasta water with grated cheese and black pepper. It clumps so easily. Alfredo has an image problem. Americans think of it as pasta draped in a cream sauce made of heavy cream and cheese, but the original version is thinner and creamy from an emulsion of butter and grated cheese.
Why is cacio e pepe so hard to perfectly execute? ›
But it is extremely hard to execute well because you need to control the heat. The cheese will become stringy if you heat up your pan too much (above 70 °C or 158 °F). I tested all the methods, so you do not need to! Cacio e Pepe is rare in restaurants because it is hard to serve warm without the corn starch trick.
Why is cacio e pepe so popular? ›
It's a dish that is both rustic and sophisticated, and it's beloved by foodies all over the world. Cacio e pepe has a rich history dating back to ancient Rome. It was a popular dish among shepherds, as the ingredients were cheap and easy to find in the countryside.
What does cacio e pepe mean in English? ›
An iconic dish of the 'Eternal City' Roma, cacio e pepe or pasta de pepe simply translates to cheese and pepper pasta.
What does cacio e pepe taste like? ›
The translation of Cacio e Pepe literally means cheese and pepper. This pasta dish is incredibly simple, but packs a lot of rich flavor with pecorino Romano cheese and freshly ground pepper. It has a very rich and strong flavor due to the Pecorino Romano sharp cheese as well as the heavy amount of pepper.
What does cacio mean in Italian? ›
[ˈkatʃo ] Word forms: cacio, plural caci. masculine noun. cheese.
Where did Anthony Bourdain have cacio e pepe? ›
In one infamous episode of No Reservations, Bourdain visited a secret restaurant (later revealed to be Ristorante Roma Sparita) where he enjoyed a cacio e pepe so delicious, he listed a handful of life experiences he would sacrifice in order to eat it again (namely, a Jefferson Airplane concert, some acid trips, ...
What is cacio e pepe Trader Joe's? ›
Cacio e Pepe [say: kah-cheeoh eh peh-peh] is a deceptively simple Italian pasta dish that you may have seen on the menu the last time you visited a Rome-inspired restaurant. The name just means, “cheese and pepper,” and that pretty much sums it up.
What pairs best with cacio e pepe? ›
Look no further than Chianti Classico for a classic red pairing. While most people associate this wine with flavorful meats like Florentine steak, the sharpness of the cacio e pepe holds its own and makes Chianti an unexpected accompaniment.
That said, as simple as the cacio e pepe ingredient list may be, this dish is famously finicky when it comes to technique. If the cheese is overheated or the starchy pasta water isn't emulsified properly, the sauce can turn into a sticky, clumpy mess, which I can vouch from experience is always such a tragedy.
What is a good substitute for cacio e pepe cheese? ›
Pecorino Romano is a hard, Italian sheep's milk cheese. It has sharp, rich nutty flavor, making it the perfect cheese for this simple pasta dish. If you don't have it or can't find it Parmigiano-Reggiano is a totally acceptable alternative.
What is a fun fact about cacio e pepe? ›
Cacio e pepe means 'cheese and pepper' in several central Italian dialects. In keeping with its name, the dish contains grated pecorino romano and black pepper, together with tonnarelli or spaghetti. All the ingredients keep well for a long time, which made the dish practical for shepherds without fixed abode.
What kind of pasta is used in cacio e pepe? ›
1. Pick a curved pasta shape that'll grab hold of the sauce. Customarily, Cacio e Pepe is made with hand-made tonnarelli pasta, which is about double the thickness of classic spaghetti.
Does cacio e pepe contain butter? ›
This traditional Italian dish is simple and savory. Butter, cheese, and cracked black pepper are combined to create an easy weeknight dish in under 30 minutes.
How would you describe cacio e pepe? ›
An iconic dish of the 'Eternal City' Roma, cacio e pepe or pasta de pepe simply translates to cheese and pepper pasta. While this dish is definitely not as well known as other Roman classics like spaghetti alla carbonara, it is cheesy indulgence at its finest.