Cacio e Pepe Pasta: A Must Add to Your Recipe Arsenal

Since it seems that everyone — including Julia Roberts herself! — was talking about memorable food from the filming of Eat Pray Love, I've got oodles of al dente noodles on the brain, and it reminded me that I've yet to share with you my favorite Italian pasta to make at home.

I like to think of cacio e pepe (Italian for "cheese and pepper") as the Rome's cosmopolitan version of mac and cheese. It's a simple recipe that requires nothing more than spaghetti, cheese, butter, and seasonings. It's ready in a matter of minutes — and always gone even faster than that. For this reason, cacio e pepe is one of the most valued dishes in my weeknight recipe arsenal. Want a plate of this now? Then check out the recipe below.