This pasta is simple, it’s amazing and it’s feminine- which I love! It’s my take on cacio e pepe but with different cheese, different “peppercorns” (that are actually dried berries), and seasoned pasta water! I would love for you to get in on this one because it’s fabulously delicious. I made this for Mother’s Day since my mom loves cacio e pepe and she loves all things pink. It felt like the right thing to do! I used Benedetto Cavalieri’s Spaghettoni pasta which is fairly traditional for this Roman-style dish. The game changer was the Sicilian Incanestrato cheese which is hard, aged cheese like parmesan or pecorino, but a whole lot better!!! Is that possible and did I actually admit to this? YES.

I discovered this cheese at a small Italian market on the upper east side but I can’t imagine it’s not sold elsewhere?! And the pink peppercorn berries took a little hunting but I am in love now! The seasoned pasta water adds another level of flavor. Other than salting your water to taste the equivalent of the black sea I think cooking pasta in brothy water with the addition of aromatics accentuates the flavor so much more.