Cacio E Pepe Ina Garten Recipes

PASTA WITH PECORINO AND PEPPER

Steps:

• Place the peppercorns in a mortar and pestle and crush them until you have a mixture of coarse and fine bits. (You can also grind them in a small food mill or coffee grinder.) Set aside.
• Fill a large, heavy-bottomed pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package until al dente. Ladle 1 cup of the pasta cooking water into a glass measuring cup and reserve it. Drain the pasta quickly in a colander and return the pasta to the pot with a lot of the pasta water still dripping.
• Working quickly, with the heat on very low, toss the pasta with 1/2 cup of the grated Pecorino, the crushed peppercorns, cream, butter, parsley, and 1 teaspoon salt, tossing constantly. If the pasta seems dry, add some of the reserved cooking water. Off the heat, toss in the remaining 1/2 cup Pecorino. Serve immediately with a big bowl of extra grated Pecorino for sprinkling.

CACIO E PEPE (INA GARTEN)

Steps:

• Freshly grate some black pepper or place the peppercorns in a mortar and pestle and crush them until you have a mixture of coarse and fine bits. (You can also grind them in a small food mill or coffee grinder.) Set aside.
• Add 1 tablespoon salt to a pot of boiling water and the pasta; cook until al dente.
• Before you drain the pasta, ladle 1 cup of the pasta cooking water into a glass measuring cup and reserve it.
• Drain the pasta quickly in a colander and return the pasta to the pot with a lot of the pasta water still dripping.
• Working quickly, with the heat on very low, toss the pasta with 1/2 cup of the grated Pecorino, the crushed peppercorns, cream, butter, parsley, and 1 teaspoon salt, tossing constantly.
• If the pasta seems dry, add some of the reserved cooking water.
• Off the heat, toss in the remaining 1/2 cup Pecorino.
• Serve immediately.

CACIO E PEPE CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a saucepan, heat the milk, butter, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper over medium heat, just until scalded. Add the flour all at once and beat it vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together. Lower the heat and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Dump the mixture into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Immediately add the eggs, Pecorino, and Parmesan and pulse until the eggs are incorporated and the dough is smooth and thick.
• Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large, plain 5/8-inch round pastry tip. Pipe the dough in mounds 1 1/4 inches wide and 3/4 inch high (1 inch apart) onto the prepared baking sheets. With a wet finger, lightly press down the swirl at the top of each puff. (You can also use two spoons to scoop the mixture and shape the puffs with damp fingers.) Brush the top of each puff lightly with the egg wash, and sprinkle with Pecorino, salt, and pepper. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown outside but still soft inside. Serve hot.

CACIO E PEPE WITH FRESH CORN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water and the corn cobs to a boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package instructions.
• While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a skillet or large braiser over medium heat until the butter melts. Add the breadcrumbs and garlic powder and stir to completely coat the breadcrumbs. Cook, stirring frequently, until the breadcrumbs are toasted and light brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool. Wipe the skillet clean.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in the cleaned skillet over medium heat until the butter melts. Increase the heat to medium high. Add a generous amount of black pepper, at least 1 teaspoon, and cook until the pepper is very fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the corn kernels and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until the corn is softened and turns bright yellow, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the Pecorino Romano to a large heatproof bowl. Pour in about 1 1/2 cups of the hot pasta water and stir vigorously until the cheese melts into a smooth sauce.
• Remove the pasta from the boiling water with tongs to the skillet with the corn and toss to coat. Remove from the heat. Add the cheese sauce to the skillet and toss to coat, adding more pasta water as needed to keep it saucy. Add more pepper to taste. Top with more cheese and breadcrumbs, reserving some crumbs for plating. Sprinkle with the basil, parsley, chile and even more black pepper if desired. Drizzle with oil. Plate and sprinkle with more breadcrumbs.

CACIO E PEPE CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Arrange two racks so they are evenly spaced in the oven.
• In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup milk with the butter, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper over medium just until bubbles start to form around the perimeter and the milk is scalded. (Don't allow it to boil.)
• Add the flour all at once and beat the mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon until it comes together. Lower the heat and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Dump the mixture into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Immediately add 4 eggs, the Parmesan and pecorino, and pulse until the eggs and cheeses are completely incorporated.
• Line two sheet pans with parchment paper. Working in batches, spoon the dough into a large pastry bag fitted with a 5/8-inch round pastry tip or a large, gallon-size resealable bag, snipping off a lower corner before piping.
• Pipe the dough onto the sheet pans in 1 1/4-inch-wide, 3/4-inch-high mounds, setting them each 1 inch apart. (You can also use two spoons to scoop the mixture and shape the puffs.) The mounds should be shaped like huge chocolate kisses. Using a wet finger, lightly press down the swirl on top of each puff.
• Prepare the egg wash: In a small bowl, whisk the remaining egg with the remaining 1 teaspoon milk until combined. Brush the top of each puff lightly with the egg wash and sprinkle with the remaining pecorino; season with salt and pepper.
• Bake the cheese puffs until browned, about 15 to 20 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking. Serve hot. (If preparing the cheese puffs in advance, you can bake them off, allow them to cool, then freeze them in a sealed resealable bag. Reheat them on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.)