Traditional Italian cuisine offers a delightful array of flavors and textures, and among its most beloved dishes is cacio e pepe frico. This dish, originating from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, is an exquisite combination of crispy fried cheese and a rich, creamy sauce made from Pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper. Indulge in the culinary journey of preparing cacio e pepe frico, a dish that captures the essence of Italian simplicity and sophistication, leaving your taste buds craving for more.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CACIO E PEPE
Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a pan just wide enough to hold the pasta, place enough water to fill the pan 1 inch from the bottom. Season the water with a pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Spread the pasta in the pan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Allow the pasta water to reduce; do not add more, as you want the starchy water to be minimal when the remaining ingredients are added.
- Meanwhile, add the coarse black pepper to a separate small pan over medium heat. Toast a minute or two until fragrant.
- Once the pasta is al dente and the pasta water has reduced so only a slight coating remains at the bottom of the pan, turn off the heat and add the toasted ground black pepper and Pecorino-Romano. Stir and toss vigorously until both ingredients are well incorporated into the pasta. Toss in the olive oil and season with salt.
- Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and garnish with more black pepper, Pecorino-Romano and extra-virgin olive oil.
CACIO E PEPE FRICO
A delicate cracker made by baking mounds of grated cheese into weblike crisps, frico could feature a number of cheeses, be it Montasio, cheddar, Asiago or, in this case, the kinds featured in cacio e pepe. Using both Parmesan and pecorino gives a good mix of richness and tang, though you could just use Parmesan. (Pecorino on its own may be too salty once it concentrates in the oven.) Snack on these with wine or spritzes, or crumble them over pasta, salad, soup or anything that likes a grating of cheese.
Provided by Ali Slagle
Categories quick, crackers and chips, finger foods, appetizer
Time 15m
Yield 20 crackers
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Heat oven to 400 degrees, and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, gently toss together the cheeses.
- Arrange heaping tablespoon-size mounds of the cheese mixture on the baking sheets, spacing them at least 1/2 inch apart. Using your fingers, gently pat down each mound to flatten. (It's O.K. if there are holes - the cheese will melt into a web.) Grind pepper over each round.
- Bake until golden and crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets until crisp, then transfer to a serving plate using an offset spatula.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 22, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 0 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 80 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams
CACIO E PEPE
It is among the most basic, simplest pastas there is, and suddenly trendy to boot. Why? Because when made right, it is incredible.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories easy, weeknight, pastas, main course
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Put a pot of salted water on to boil. In a large bowl, combine the cheeses and black pepper; mash with just enough cold water to make a thick paste. Spread the paste evenly in the bowl.
- Once the water is boiling, add the pasta. The second before it is perfectly cooked (taste it frequently once it begins to soften), use tongs to quickly transfer it to the bowl, reserving a cup or so of the cooking water. Stir vigorously to coat the pasta, adding a teaspoon or two of olive oil and a bit of the pasta cooking water to thin the sauce if necessary. The sauce should cling to the pasta and be creamy but not watery.
- Plate and dust each dish with additional pecorino and pepper. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 642, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 67 grams, Fat 24 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 37 grams, SaturatedFat 14 grams, Sodium 1104 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams
SPAGHETTI CACIO E PEPE
This is a recipe that we have made in our family for many years--everyone loves it. It's a very basic and easy variation on mac 'n cheese.
Provided by Jennifer Torrey
Categories Side Dish
Time 23m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Scoop out some of the cooking water and reserve. Drain spaghetti.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and pepper; cook and stir until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add spaghetti and Pecorino Romano cheese. Ladle in 1/2 cup of reserved cooking water; stir until cheese is melted, about 1 minute. Add more cooking water until sauce coats spaghetti, about 1 minute more.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 806.5 calories, Carbohydrate 87.8 g, Cholesterol 54.1 mg, Fat 36 g, Fiber 3.9 g, Protein 31.6 g, SaturatedFat 12 g, Sodium 632.7 mg, Sugar 3.4 g
CACIO E PEPE GNOCCO FRITTO
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories appetizer
Time 30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Fill a Dutch oven with 3 inches of vegetable oil. Place the pot over medium heat and bring the oil up to 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.
- Meanwhile, roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thick. Using a pizza cutter, cut 2-by-1-inch pieces of pizza dough. Carefully lower a few of the pieces into the oil. Fry, flipping occasionally, until golden brown, bubbly and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain well on a paper towel-lined tray. Season with a pinch of salt. When drained, place in a bowl and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the Pecorino and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Continue the process with the remaining dough, layering in the bowl as you go.
BROCCOLI CACIO E PEPE
A riff on a simple Italian dish, except made with broccoli instead of pasta.
Provided by Peggy Oliver
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Broccoli
Time 40m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Quarter broccoli heads lengthwise and add to the boiling water; simmer for 3 minutes. Drain.
- Melt butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in milk. Bring to a simmer; cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese, pepper, and salt.
- Transfer drained broccoli to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Pour sauce on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbly, about 15 minutes. Broil until top starts to brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 208 calories, Carbohydrate 14.8 g, Cholesterol 33.8 mg, Fat 12 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 12.3 g, SaturatedFat 7.1 g, Sodium 449.3 mg, Sugar 6.2 g
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients, especially the cheese and the pepper.
- Use freshly ground black pepper for the best flavor.
- Do not overcook the pasta. It should be al dente, slightly firm to the bite.
- Use a large skillet or saucepan to cook the pasta so that it has plenty of room to move around.
- Stir the pasta frequently while it is cooking to prevent it from sticking together.
- Add the cheese and pepper to the pasta immediately after it is drained, while it is still hot. This will help the cheese to melt and the pepper to infuse its flavor into the pasta.
- Serve the pasta immediately, garnished with additional black pepper and grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Conclusion:
Cacio e pepe is a simple but delicious pasta dish that is perfect for a quick and easy meal. It is made with just a few simple ingredients, but it is packed with flavor. The key to a good cacio e pepe is to use high-quality ingredients and to cook the pasta perfectly. With a little practice, you can make a cacio e pepe that is sure to impress your friends and family.
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