Recipes

Cacio e Pepe

Prep time: 10 minutes

Total time: 20 minutes

Serves 4

With this pasta dish, you or your kids won’t even know they’re eating whole-wheat noodles. It’s a great first step into the world of whole-wheat.

Comments (23) | Make it a Meal

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ingredients

1 to 2 teaspoons: black pepper, cracked

1 cup (4 ounces): grated Pecorino

1 cup (4 ounces): grated Parmesan

3 tablespoons: unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 tablespoon: kosher salt

1 pound: whole-wheat spaghetti

directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, crack the pepper using the back of a small skillet until all of the round peppercorns are cracked. In a large bowl, combine the Pecorino, Parmesan, butter and pepper using a silicone spatula.

When the water comes to a boil, add the salt and pasta and cook according to package directions. Once the pasta is al dente, reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, and drain the pasta. Add the pasta and ¼ of the pasta water to the bowl and stir to combine, adding more water, if necessary, for desired consistency.

helpful hints

Let the butter come to room temperature in the warm part of your kitchen (ie. Near the stove)
Use pre-grated cheeses as a time saver
Pasta is al dente when it still has a little firmness when you bite into it. Pasta should not be mushy

tools needed

Small skillet, cutting board, measuring cups, measuring spoons, tongs, silicone spatula, large bowl, large pot, colander

23 comments, add yours below

John on March 24, 2011 at 10:49AM wrote:

Thank God! I love this dish and needed to know how to cook it. I also love the fact that you kept it simple. I am always avoiding complicated versions of this that use eggs and other things. Thanks Jessica. PS. Love you new hair cut.

Aimee on March 24, 2011 at 11:02AM wrote:

YUM! This looks great! Years ago, I tried whole wheat spaghetti and really disliked it. Awhile later, I experimented with the ww pasta shapes and realized I loved them! Turns out, my kids are the same way. They usually don’t like the ww noodles, but they don’t notice ww penne, bowties, rigatoni and other shapes. Looking forward to trying this!

Josephine on March 24, 2011 at 1:58PM wrote:

Looking good! Will try it out tonight and let you know! Thanks Jessica!! I’ve been loving your new cookbook! Lots of healthy options! Thank you!

Laura on March 24, 2011 at 2:51PM wrote:

what brand is the whole wheat pasta you are using? thanks! still wtg on the brisket recipe and dessert video! :)

Jackie on March 24, 2011 at 3:40PM wrote:

Laura posted this same question…....what brand of pasta are you using??? not all brands are created equal…lol

Amanda Barkey on March 24, 2011 at 6:33PM wrote:

whole wheat pasta has come SO far! love love love this dish and adore who simple it is. another great video you two!

heather on March 25, 2011 at 5:08PM wrote:

Cacio e pepe is a classic in this house. Marvelous, comforting, curative eating! It would appear I’m not the first to wonder about your pasta brand… We’ve tried a couple brands—one was so-so, one was pretty darn cardboard-y (and I’m a dietitian who loves my nutritious eats!). Would love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers,

*Heather*

Jessica on March 25, 2011 at 5:24PM wrote:

I used Gia Russa whole-wheat spaghetti for this recipe. Sooo good.

Sarah on March 25, 2011 at 11:59PM wrote:

I love your site, cookbooks and all the recipes I have tried. Thanks so much for sharing!

Sarah on March 28, 2011 at 10:26PM wrote:

Oh my. I have “kind of” made this simple pasta dish before, but not quite like this, and whoa nelly it was incredible. I made it yesterday for a late lunch and have been craving it ever since! Comfort food is right. (Especially on these winter-spring days) Thank you!

Dian Sarwono on March 29, 2011 at 1:38AM wrote:

It’s hard to find Pecorino in Jakarta. Is there a substitute for it? If I use only parmesan will it taste as good?
Thank you!

Jessica on March 29, 2011 at 8:47AM wrote:

Dian, you can use all Parmesan. It will taste just as good!

Grace Straus on March 30, 2011 at 9:00PM wrote:

I just made this tonight and it was a hit! I love how easy it is. Where can you buy Gia Russa pasta?

Margaret on April 4, 2011 at 7:04PM wrote:

Jessica I made your stewy shrimp for a friend of mine who just lost her husband to cancer (41) and she loves food and she LOVED your dish….thanks..
Margaret from Charlotte nc.

Jessica on April 6, 2011 at 10:24AM wrote:

Margaret, thanks for including me in support of your friend. I send my best wishes.

Laura on April 6, 2011 at 10:31AM wrote:

passover ideas please, please, xo

Marybeth on April 21, 2011 at 12:28PM wrote:

Just spent this morning looking at your videos - I just love your site. You make all of your recipes look so “doable” and delish! I’ve always been too intimidated to cook fish, (my Mom never really did any) but your video gave me the confidence to try the halibut on top of spinach. Thanks so much for sharing your talent!

Lorie Skonieczny on May 11, 2011 at 3:29PM wrote:

Just made this recipe and had my 13 year old son try it before we sit down for dinner. He said, “Mom, this is soooooo good.” Then he told me I need to get your cookbook because all your recipes are AWESOME!!

Piper Chuthakieo on August 4, 2011 at 7:57PM wrote:

Dian-I couldn’t find Pecorino either, I used Asiago instead and it was so delicious. Thanks Jessica-I’m putting this in my family meal rotation-picky husband, 4-yr-old and 1-yr-old all loved it!

Jaime James on October 2, 2011 at 1:14PM wrote:

Jessica, LOVE LOVE LOVE this dish! Saw it on your website & bought the ingredients today (along with ingredients for 2 more of your recipes). My 3 & 5 year old kids are inhaling the pasta declaring it the best they’ve ever had! They are interested in cooking & enjoyed the process of watching me grate the cheese, cook the noodles, etc. Thanks!

Joanna on October 23, 2011 at 6:40PM wrote:

Jessica, with the holidays approaching quickly, I would absolutely love to do a do it delicious tasty stuffing - and a pumpkin pie. :) I love your creations!

Oh how I’d love to try this recipe. We have to limit our cheese :(