Bavette Cacio e Pepe

By LaLaCooks

Thin linguini with sheep's cheese and black pepper makes a simple, flavorful weeknight meal. The recipe comes from chef Mario Batali.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons coarse salt
• 1 pound bavette or fine linguine
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Cacio di Roma cheese
• 1 1/2 cups freshly grated pecorino Romano cheese, plus extra for serving
• 3 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Step 1

Directions

Fill a large pot with 24 cups water; bring to a boil over high heat. Add salt and return to a boil; add pasta and cook until al dente, 1 minute less than suggested on the package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil and butter over low heat until butter is just melted. Turn off heat.

When pasta is finished cooking, turn heat back on under skillet and add 1/2 cup pasta cooking water; bring to a boil. Add a small handful of cheese to skillet and let melt.

Drain pasta, reserving some of the cooking liquid. Add pasta to skillet along with pepper and toss, using tongs, to combine; add 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking liquid.

Add remaining cheese to skillet and remove from heat; let melt on top of pasta and toss to combine. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil; toss, adding additional pasta cooking liquid, until pasta is well coated. Serve immediately with additional pecorino and pepper.