Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe (Pasta with Cheese and Black Pepper)

Yield: 6 servings

1 pound spaghetti
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns | or more to taste
1½ cups Pecorino Romano | freshly grated, to taste

Bring a large pot with 6 quarts of water and 2 tablespoons of salt to a boil.

Grind the peppercorns very coarsely, preferable crushing them in a mortar with a pestle or in a spice grinder.

Warm up a big bowl for serving the pasta. Use some of the pasta water to heat the bowl, if you like.

Cook the spaghetti until al dente. Quickly lift it from the pot with tongs, let it drain for an instant, then drop it into the warm bowl.

Immediately scatter a cup of the grated cheese and most of the ground pepper on the pasta, and toss in quickly. As you mix, sprinkle over a spoonful of hot water from the cooking pot to moisten and amalgamate the pasta and condiments — add more pepper or cheese to taste.

Serve right away, while the spaghetti is very hot.

Buon appetito!