Cacio E Pepe Fritters Recipes

ISOLATION EATS: CRAIG HARDING'S CACIO E PEPE FRITTERS

Steps:

• In a small sauce pan melt the butter in the milk and water and slowly add the flour until a dough forms. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes until it dries and pulls away from the sides of the pot.Cool for 3 minutes. Pull out your trusty stand mixer and whip with the paddle attachment, adding 1 egg at a time until incorporated.Add the cheese, salt, pepper and nutmeg.In a small sauce pot, heat 1L of vegetable oil to 375 F.Using two spoons, gently drop the dough into the heated oil and fry until golden brown. Finish with extra pecorino and fresh black pepper. Alternatively you can transfer dough to a piping bag and pipe small tablespoon size portions 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 F for approximately 20 minutes and finish the same way. The baked version will freeze quite well, so why not try both cooking methods?

CACIO E PEPE

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.

SPAGHETTI CACIO E PEPE

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.

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.

PASTA ALLA CACIO E PEPE

Steps:

• Place finely grated Pecorino Romano in medium bowl. Set colander inside large bowl.
• Bring 2 quarts water to boil in large Dutch oven. Add pasta and salt; cook, stirring frequently, until al dente (or according to package directions). Drain pasta into colander, reserving cooking water. Pour 1 1/2 cups cooking water into liquid measuring cup and discard remainder. Return pasta to now-empty bowl.
• Slowly whisk 1 cup of reserved pasta water into finely grated Pecorino until smooth. Whisk in cream, oil, and black pepper. Gradually pour mixture over pasta, tossing to coat. Let pasta rest 1 to 2 minutes, tossing frequently, adjusting consistency with remaining pasta water. Serve, passing coarsely grated Pecorino separately.