← Replies in SPAGHETTI CACIO E PEPE Recipe

For cacio e pepe, do not under any circumstances "cook the sauce". The whole point is that the cheese and pasta water turn into a silky cream. If the cheese gets hot it will turn into a stringy lumpy mess, which is definitely not what you want. To get a smooth mix, add a little pasta water to the cheese and mix until smooth. Be sure to let the pasta stand *off the heat* for a minute to avoid the lumps I mention above. You'll need to experiment with the right amount of pasta water vs cheese to get the ideal creamy consistency, but the result is totally worth it!