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5 from 11 votes

Creamy Lemon Cacio e Pepe

Pasta a Limone meets Cacio e Pepe - get into it!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 people
Author: Gaby Dalkin

Ingredients

  • 2 lemons
  • 1 pound spaghetti  
  • Kosher salt
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • cup finely grated Parmesan
  • cup finely grated Pecorino
  • 2 teaspoons freshly grated black pepper

Instructions

  • Using a vegetable peeler, remove two 2"-long strips of lemon zest. Thinly slice each strip lengthwise into thin strands; set aside for serving. Finely grate remaining zest into a large pot (like a Dutch oven). Cut the lemons in half and juice (you need about 2-3 tablespoons) into a small bowl and set aside.
  • Cook pasta, stirring occasionally, until very al dente (pasta will finish cooking in the sauce).
  • Meanwhile, add cream to large skillet with lemon zest and cook over medium heat until simmering, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and add in butter while stirring until the sauce is creamy and emulsified. Turn off heat if you're not ready for the next step.
  • Just before pasta is al dente, scoop out ¾ cup pasta cooking liquid and add the pasta cooking liquid to cream sauce and return to medium heat. Drain the pasta and transfer to the skillet with the sauce sauce. Cook, tossing often and adding grated cheese little by little, until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy. Stir in the reserved lemon juice and season with salt as needed and the freshly cracked black pepper.
  • Divide pasta among bowls and top with reserved lemon zest strips and extra pepper and grated parmesan if desired.

Notes

One thing to note: if you’re making this with store-bought pre-shredded cheese, there’s a chance it wont incorporate as nicely than if you shred/grate it yourself. So go ahead and take the extra 2 minutes to grate yourself. I promise it’s worth it!

Nutrition

Calories: 844kcal | Carbohydrates: 94g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 414mg | Potassium: 426mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1377IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 313mg | Iron: 2mg