Cacio e Pepe

What I love about Italian food is that it’s often the simplest dishes that are the most satisfying; this creamy combination of pasta, cheese, and black pepper is one of my favorites. Boil a pound of noodles until el dente making sure to save a cup of the pasta water just before draining.

Dump the noodles into a strainer and put the pasta pot back on the stove over low heat. Melt a half a stick of butter in the pot then add the drained pasta and toss. Stir in a tablespoon of freshly ground black pepper followed by the reserved pasta water and a cup and a half of parmesan, pecorino, or a combination of both. Mix together until the pasta is completed coated by the butter and cheese then salt to taste and serve immediately.