Lemon Pepper Acini de Pepe

By mirelsonp

This small, round pasta is named for its resemblance to peppercorns, so why not pair it with black pepper which, along with lemon, adds brightness to the parmesan?

Ingredients

• 2 cups acini de pepe
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano=Reggiano
• 1 Tbsp grated lemon zest
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Details

Servings 6

Preparation

Step 1

Cook acini de pepe in a 4-qt pot of boiling salted water (2 tsp salt for 3 qt water) until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain pasta.

Melt butter in same pot with oil. remove from heat and stir in pasts, cheese, zest, pepper, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 cup cooking water (add more to moisten if necessary).