Alfredo Viazzis Spaghettini Cacio E Pepe Food

CACIO E PEPE PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid before draining.
• Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the foam from the butter subsides. Add the pepper and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 1 minute. Add the pasta and up to 3/4 cup of the reserved cooking liquid, tossing to coat. Sprinkle the Parmesan on top and continue to cook, tossing, until the cheese is melted and the pasta is well coated, about 2 minutes. Add a little more of the cooking liquid to loosen, if necessary. Season with salt and divide among 4 bowls. Serve with additional Parmesan and pepper.

ALFREDO VIAZZI'S SPAGHETTINI CACIO E PEPE

Steps:

• Using the largest holes of a grater, grate the cheese. (This may also be done with a Cuisinart, using a rapid on-off motion, but be careful not to puree or process the cheese.) The grated cheese should be pelletlike in consistency. Set aside.
• Using a rolling pin and a wooden chopping board, crack the peppercorns as you would in making steak au poivre. Set aside.
• Bring 6 quarts of water to a rapid rolling boil. While waiting for the water to boil, wash and dry the basil leaves and cut into thin ribbons. Set aside.
• When the water comes to a boil, add salt and, if you are using whole- wheat pasta, a tablespoon of cooking oil to prevent it from sticking. Add pasta to rapidly boiling water and stir with a long-handled wooden spoon or fork to separate the pasta and bring the water rapidly back to a boil. Leave to cook at a rapid boil for 5 to 7 minutes, adjusting cooking time according to the type of pasta you are using.
• While pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a small saucepan and set aside.
• Have ready a warm serving bowl and when the pasta is done, drain quickly and turn into the bowl. Add the melted butter and toss thoroughly. Add the grated cheese and toss with the pasta. Finally add the cracked pepper and mix again. Serve immediately on warm plates and sprinkle each serving with the ribbons of basil.

SPAGHETTI CACIO E PEPE

Steps:

• Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot over high heat and add 4 tablespoons salt. Drop the pasta into the water. After 1 minute, when the pasta begins to soften, stir to prevent the pasta from sticking together and to submerge it completely in the water.
• Cook according to the package directions for al dente, stirring occasionally. When the pasta is ready, remove 2 cups of pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta through a colander.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add 2 tablespoons black pepper and cook until the peppercorns begin to warm and become fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in 1/2 cup of the pasta water and then the pasta and stir. Pull the pot off the heat and add the Pecorino and Parmigiano, stirring and tossing vigorously until they melt and the sauce becomes creamy. If the mixture becomes dry, clumpy or stuck together, add more pasta water, 1/4-cup at a time, stirring and tossing until a creamy consistency is reached. (The pasta will thicken as it stands.) Add a little more pasta water at a time to loosen it back up again, if you like. (You might not use all of the pasta water.)
• Serve immediately sprinkled with more Pecorino-Romano and black pepper.

CACIO E PEPE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta for 2 mins less than pack instructions state, in salted boiling water. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium frying pan over a low heat, then add the ground black pepper and toast for a few minutes.
• Drain the pasta, keeping 200ml of the pasta water. Tip the pasta and 100ml of the pasta water into the pan with the butter and pepper. Toss briefly, then scatter over the parmesan evenly, but don't stir - wait for the cheese to melt for 30 seconds, then once melted, toss everything well, and stir together. This prevents the cheese from clumping or going stringy and makes a smooth, shiny sauce. Add a splash more pasta water if you need to, to loosen the sauce and coat the pasta. Serve immediately with a good grating of black pepper.