Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsSide Bar East LansingCacio E Pepe Recipe

Cacio E Pepe Recipe

Time50m
Serves4

roasted garlic & fennel cream sauce, house made ricotta, provolone, mozzarella, parmesan, fresh cracked black peppercorns

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Ingredients

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Pasta

Roasted Garlic & Fennel Cream Sauce

Cheeses

Method

Pasta Preparation

  1. 1

    Cook the Spaghetti

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.

  2. 2

    Reserve Pasta Water

    Before draining the pasta, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water for later use.

  3. 3

    Drain Spaghetti

    Drain the spaghetti and set aside.

Roasted Garlic & Fennel Cream Sauce

  1. 4

    Prepare Garlic

    Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Wrap the garlic cloves in aluminum foil with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes until soft.

  2. 5

    Sauté Fennel

    While garlic is roasting, chop the fennel bulb. In a skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped fennel and sauté for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes tender and slightly caramelized.

  3. 6

    Blend the Sauce

    Once the garlic is roasted, squeeze the cloves out of their skins into a blender. Add the sautéed fennel and heavy cream. Blend until smooth. Season with salt to taste.

Combining the Dish

  1. 7

    Combine Pasta and Sauce

    In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained spaghetti with the roasted garlic and fennel cream sauce. Mix well, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve desired creaminess.

  2. 8

    Add Cheeses

    Fold in the house made ricotta, provolone, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese into the pasta and sauce mixture until well combined and cheeses are melted.

  3. 9

    Season with Pepper

    Generously add fresh cracked black peppercorns to the mixture and mix until evenly distributed.

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