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Chef Mise
Sweet Potato 'Cacio e Pepe' (Benne + Black Pepper): Creamy without cream—sweet potato carries the sauce.

Sweet Potato 'Cacio e Pepe'

Creamy without cream--sweet potato carries the sauce.

Total: 25 minDifficulty: MediumYield: 4 servings

Timing note: 25 mins

ItalianSouthernDairy

The Key Move

In the TOSS step, add cheese gradually while tossing violently until the sauce emulsifies and coats the pasta, avoiding clumps.

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The Setup

  • Blender
  • Cutting Board
  • Chef's Knife
  • Whisk

The Mise en Place

5

Your prep station before cooking begins

The Spice Blend (0/1)

The Pantry (0/2)

Other (0/2)

My sauce looks clumpy and oily, not smooth and creamy. The cheese melted, but it's not coming together.

Ah, that can happen if the cheese goes in too fast or you don't toss it quite hard enough.

My sauce is watery and slides right off the pasta. It's just too thin.

Sounds like we need a bit more binding power in there. You might need a touch more cheese and that starchy pasta water. That water is key – it's what helps the cheese create that b…

Chef's Notes

Tip

Toast benne seeds until fragrant for a deeper, nuttier flavor.

Tip

Reserve pasta water to emulsify the sauce and achieve a creamy consistency.

Serving

Serve immediately, topped with extra black pepper and toasted benne seeds.

The Method

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