Sweet Potato 'Cacio e Pepe'
Creamy without cream--sweet potato carries the sauce.
25 min total, minimal dishes
Timing: 25 mins
Sweet Potato 'Cacio e Pepe'
Creamy without cream--sweet potato carries the sauce.
25 min total, minimal dishes
Timing: 25 mins
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
5Your 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
Toast benne seeds until fragrant for a deeper, nuttier flavor.
Reserve pasta water to emulsify the sauce and achieve a creamy consistency.
Serve immediately, topped with extra black pepper and toasted benne seeds.
The Method
BASE
Bloom pepper in butter. Add puree and pasta (1 lb) water. Whisk.
Broken emulsion: If the butter separates from the puree, add a splash more pasta water and whisk vigorously to bring it back together.
Pepper is fragrant and butter is melted.
TOSS
Add pasta (1 lb). Add cheese gradually. Toss violently.
Cheese clumping: Adding cheese too quickly or without enough agitation will cause it to melt into a solid, rubbery lump.
Sauce is emulsified and coats the pasta.
FINISH
Top with BENNE seeds.
Uneven distribution: Dumping the seeds in one spot creates a dry, sandy bite; sprinkle lightly over the entire surface.
Dish is plated and garnished.
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