5 from 3 votes
Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe
Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe is a popular Roman dish that is made from just 4 ingredients, including salt. Going with top-notch ingredients is key. Plan ahead of time. See out a high-quality Italian market or order online.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings:
6
Calories:
478 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- ½ cup black peppercorns
- 2 tablespoon sea salt or coarse Kosher salt, coarse
- 14 oz pasta tonnarelli or spaghetti
- 10 oz pecorino romano grated
Instructions
Do Ahead
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the whole peppercorns and stir gently until they become aromatic, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Add to a mortar and pestle and grind them until they become powdery and grey in color, about 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
Cup of Yum
Prepare the Cacio e Pepe
- Bring a large pot of boiling water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoon of coarse salt.
- Add the pasta to the water. Stir to keep the pasta from sticking together. A couple of minutes before the pasta becomes al dente, place your pasta bowl over the pot. (This heats the pasta bowl and helps to make a creamy sauce).
- Use kitchen towels to remove the pasta bowl and check the pasta to make sure it's cooked to al dente.
- Drain the pasta but save the water.
- Add the pasta to the warmed pasta bowl. Working in batches, add the cheese and ladle in some pasta water, stirring everything together constantly.
- Add about 2 tablespoon of the ground pepper and keep stirring until the cheese and water create a creamy sauce that clings to the pasta. If too runny, add more cheese. If too thick, add more pasta water.
- Serve immediately with additional ground pepper tableside.
Notes
- NOTE: Watch the video near the top of the recipe for visual guidance.
- NOTE:
- Dried spaghetti or bucatini are perfectly acceptable substitutions for the tonnarelli.
- Be sure to grate the cheese with the small holes on your box grater, not the larger shredding holes. This helps to make the perfect sauce.
- This dish is definitely best served right after tossing together. You can reheat with the addition of more pasta water. (Keep some on hand in case you have leftovers.)
- We don't recommend freezing this dish.
Nutrition Information
Calories
478kcal
(24%)
Carbohydrates
64g
(21%)
Protein
26g
(52%)
Fat
14g
(22%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Cholesterol
49mg
(16%)
Sodium
2900mg
(121%)
Potassium
451mg
(10%)
Fiber
7g
(28%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
304IU
(6%)
Calcium
605mg
(61%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 478
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 478kcal | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 64g | 21% |
| Protein | 26g | 52% |
| Fat | 14g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 49mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 2900mg | 121% |
| Potassium | 451mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 304IU | 6% |
| Calcium | 605mg | 61% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.