Sometimes, the simplest things in life are the ones that have the most value. Cooking is no exception and recipes like the one proposed below are a clear example. Cacio e pepe pasta is one of the most iconic dishes that Italian gastronomy has produced and, at the same time, one of the most minimalist.
To know the origin of this recipe it is necessary to travel to Rome, specifically to the time of the Roman Empire. Legend has it that this was the star dish among the shepherds who traveled with their livestock throughout the year, moving them to warmer areas in winter and to the outermost areas of the mountains in summer.
This is what is known as transhumance and on this journey, the shepherds had to carry the bare minimum for their daily lives. Among the ingredients in his luggage were dry spaghetti, peppercorns and sheep’s cheese. These are, precisely, the only three ingredients necessary to prepare spaghetti cacio e pepe, that is, cheese and pepper.
Of course, the recipe in this video is a version of the traditional one and, if we agree that cheese is one of its key ingredients, it is important to choose one that makes this simple pasta recipe even more exquisite as is the case of Grana Padano.
This cheese is characterized by enriching any recipe with its flavor, it is high in protein and does not contain lactose, so it can be consumed by intolerant people. Reasons to make it one of the main foods in this renewed version of a classic Italian food.
