Best Farro E Pepe Recipes
FARRO E PEPE
While cacio e pepe, the classic Roman dish, is simple - made with only pasta and its cooking water; cacio, or Pecorino Romano; and abundant freshly ground black pepper - it's not always easy to make. The trick to getting a thick, creamy sauce lies in combining the cheese and pepper with starchy pasta water in just the right way; this usually requires a lot of erratic stirring and sweat. This version bucks tradition in favor of simplicity and, well, farro. The technique for the cheese paste comes from Flavio de Maio, a master of cucina Romana and producer of one of Rome's most beloved bowls of cacio e pepe. Simply blend grated cheese and a little cold water with freshly ground pepper until they come together into a creamy paste. Then toss a spoonful or two into just-cooked farro and watch it melt like butter to coat the grains in a layer of salt, pepper, richness and tang. The farro's chewy, satisfying texture is a perfect foil for the creaminess of the sauce. Keep the leftover paste in the fridge - stir a spoonful into grits, toss it with boiled green beans and, of course, use it for a bowl of cacio e pepe. Use the technique with other hard cheeses: Asiago, Parmesan and even clothbound Cheddar make for fantastic versions.
Provided by Samin Nosrat
Categories dinner, easy, lunch, quick, grains and rice, main course, side dish
Time 40m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season generously with salt until the water is as salty as the sea. Add farro, and cook until al dente, about 15 to 18 minutes. Set a colander in the sink.
- In the meantime, place pecorino and pepper in a medium bowl, and add ΒΌ cup cold water. Use an immersion blender to combine into a thick, smooth paste. Add more cold water if needed, one tablespoon at a time, to encourage blending. If you don't have an immersion blender, use a food processor for this step.
- When the farro is cooked, reserve 1 1/2 cups cooking water; transfer farro to colander to drain, then return to pot. Add 3/4 cup pecorino paste and 1/2 cup reserved cooking water, and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until cheese melts and coats farro with a glossy sheen. Taste, and add cooking water and more pecorino paste to taste until farro is the consistency of a loose risotto. If farro is properly seasoned but too thick, add warm tap water instead of salted cooking water to loosen.
- Serve immediately, garnished with more pepper. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pecorino paste for up to 1 week. Use on pasta, farro or rice, or spread on toast.
CACIO E PEPE
It is among the most basic, simplest pastas there is, and suddenly trendy to boot. Why? Because when made right, it is incredible.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories easy, weeknight, pastas, main course
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Put a pot of salted water on to boil. In a large bowl, combine the cheeses and black pepper; mash with just enough cold water to make a thick paste. Spread the paste evenly in the bowl.
- Once the water is boiling, add the pasta. The second before it is perfectly cooked (taste it frequently once it begins to soften), use tongs to quickly transfer it to the bowl, reserving a cup or so of the cooking water. Stir vigorously to coat the pasta, adding a teaspoon or two of olive oil and a bit of the pasta cooking water to thin the sauce if necessary. The sauce should cling to the pasta and be creamy but not watery.
- Plate and dust each dish with additional pecorino and pepper. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 642, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 67 grams, Fat 24 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 37 grams, SaturatedFat 14 grams, Sodium 1104 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams
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