Best Fresh Cracked Black Pepper Pasta 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.

MUSHROOM AND BLACK PEPPER PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt generously. Add the linguine and cook for 2 minutes less than the package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta. Set the pasta and pasta water aside.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook until the mushrooms have browned, about 3 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt. Add the cream and Parmesan, then bring to a simmer. Add the pasta and the pasta water and toss together, allowing the sauce to thicken, about 2 minutes. Add the black pepper and toss to distribute. Serve garnished with fresh parsley.

CACIO E PEPE (SPAGHETTI WITH BLACK PEPPER AND PECORINO ROMANO) RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil and about a teaspoon of black pepper in a medium skillet over medium-low heat until ingredients are fragrant and pepper is barely starting to sizzle, about 1 minute. Set aside.
• Place spaghetti in a large skillet and cover with water. Season with a small pinch of salt, then bring to a boil over high heat, prodding spaghetti occasionally with a fork or wooden spoon to prevent it from clumping. Cook until spaghetti is al dente (typically about 1 minute less than the package recommends). Transfer 2 to 3 tablespoons of pasta cooking water to the skillet with the olive oil/pepper mixture. Stir in butter. Using tongs, lift spaghetti and transfer it to the oil/butter mixture.
• Add cheese and remaining tablespoon olive oil to the skillet and stir with a fork until cheese is completely melted. Add a few more tablespoons of pasta water to the skillet to adjust consistency, reheating as necessary until the sauce is creamy and coats each strand of spaghetti. Season to taste with salt and more black pepper. Serve immediately, passing extra grated cheese and black pepper at the table.

CACIO E PEPE (SPAGHETTI WITH CHEESE AND PEPPER) RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the package instructs, until al dente. Save 1 cup (240 ml) pasta water, then drain.
• Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil, butter, and pepper, and stir to combine.
• Stir in the reserved pasta water.
• Toss in the cooked pasta. Reduce the heat to low.
• Add the Parmesan and toss until the cheese is melted and the pasta is well-coated.
• Season with salt, if desired.
• Enjoy!