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    Home » Recipes » Risotto

    Cacio e Pepe Risotto

    Published: Nov 10, 2020, Last updated: Nov 10, 2020 by Emily This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Cheesy and comforting Cacio e Pepe Risotto! All the flavours of a classic Cacio e Pepe pasta in risotto form, made with pecorino cheese and plenty of black pepper. It's not only delicious but super easy too!

    An overhead shot of cacio e pepe risotto in a bowl

    If you love Cacio e Pepe pasta (cheese and pepper) you'll love this risotto version! We've taken all the amazing cheesy, peppery goodness and mixed it through warm and comforting risotto rice.

    It's SO good!

    We have stayed pretty loyal to the original Cacio e Pepe flavours so there is no garlic, no onion and no wine in this recipe, things you would normally expect in a risotto.

    For richness I like to add a knob of butter in at the end but other than that I love the classic Cacio e Pepe taste this risotto has.

    Ingredients - what you need

    The ingredients are so simple all you need is; arborio or carnaroli risotto rice, chicken stock, parmesan cheese, pecorino or provolone cheese, black pepper, salt, and butter or olive oil.

    An overhead shot of all the ingredients you need to make cacio e pepe risotto

    How to make Cacio e Pepe Risotto - step by step

    Heat the olive oil in a large pan on a medium heat. Once hot add the rice and toast it lightly for 1 minute (photo 1).

    Step by step photos showing how to make cacio e pepe risotto

    Add a few ladles of stock until the rice is just covered, stir until the rice absorbs the liquid, and add another ladle or two. Continue adding the stock, stirring and letting the rice absorb it until all the stock is used up. The rice should be cooked through, thick and creamy (photo 2).

    Add the cheese, pepper, around 1 tablespoon butter (optional), and a good pinch of salt and stir into the risotto until melted. Taste for salt and add more if needed. Serve (photos 3 & 4).

    A close up of risotto on a fork

    Top tips and recipe FAQs

    • Additional flavours - we've kept the flavours in this risotto as close to the classic Cacio e Pepe pasta as possible but if you want you could add in chopped garlic, shallots or onion and a splash of white wine before adding the rice.
    • Butter - around 1 tablespoon of butter added at the end gives the risotto a nice rich and delicious flavour that I love but it is optional.
    • Stock - you can use either chicken or vegetable stock although I find chicken stock gives more flavour to this recipe. Make sure to keep it warm in a pot as you add it in.
    What's the best type of rice to use?

    The most common types of rice available for making risotto is Arborio and Carnaroli because they are short, fat and very starchy. Stay away from long-grain rice when making risotto.

    How can I store leftovers?

    Leftovers will keep well covered in the fridge for 1-2 days. You can also shape leftover risotto into balls, dredge them in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and deep fry to make arancini rice ball.

    More delicious risotto recipes you might like

    • Butternut Squash Risotto With Thyme
    • Simple Saffron Risotto
    • Creamy Mushroom Risotto
    • Creamy Tomato Risotto

    If you’ve tried this Cacio e Pepe Risotto or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.

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    A close up of cheese risotto in a bowl
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    Cacio e Pepe Risotto

    Cheesy and comforting Cacio e Pepe Risotto! All the flavours of a classic Cacio e Pepe pasta in risotto form, made with pecorino cheese and plenty of black pepper. It's not only delicious but super easy too!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 25 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 509kcal
    Author Emily Kemp

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 cups arborio or carnaroli rice (270g)
    • 5 cups chicken stock (1200ml)
    • 1 cup pecorino freshly grated (70g)
    • ½ cup parmesan freshly grated (40g)
    • 1-2 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1-2 tablespoon butter optional
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • Salt to season

    Instructions

    • Keep the stock warm in a pot.
    • Heat the olive oil in a large pan on a medium heat. Once hot add the rice and toast it lightly for 1 minute.
    • Add a few ladles of stock until the rice is just covered, stir until the rice absorbs the liquid and add another ladle or two. Continue adding the stock, stirring and letting the rice absorb it until all the stock is used up. The rice should be cooked through, thick and creamy.
    • Add the cheese, pepper, around 1 tablespoon butter (optional) and good pinch of salt and stir into the risotto until melted. Taste for salt and add more if needed. Serve.

    Notes

    • Additional flavours - we've kept the flavours in this risotto as close to the classic Cacio e Pepe pasta as possible but if you want you could add in chopped garlic, shallots or onion and a splash of white wine before adding the rice.
    • Butter - around 1 tablespoon of butter added at the end gives the risotto a nice rich and delicious flavour that I love but it is optional.
    • Stock - you can use either chicken or vegetable stock although I find chicken stock gives more flavour to this recipe. Make sure to keep it warm in a pot as you add it in.
    • Leftovers - leftovers will keep well covered in the fridge for 1-2 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 509kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 575mg | Potassium: 341mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 271IU | Calcium: 396mg | Iron: 4mg
    Helpful Info for All Recipes
    • I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise
    • When I use canned or jarred tomatoes of any kind I always use this brand for the best results and flavour
    • All vegetables are medium sized unless stated otherwise
    • All recipes are tested and developed using a fan (convection) oven
    • Find out more about how nutrition is calculated.
    • Check out our must have Italian Pantry Staples.
    • You can also find all our Essential Kitchen Tools for Italian Cooking.
    Did you try this recipe?Mention @insidetherustickitchen or tag #insidetherustickitchen! We'd love you see what you're getting up to in the kitchen!
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    Ciao, we're Emily and Nathan. Our years living in Italy taught us how to cook authentic and delicious Italian food. We're here to help you put a beautiful meal on the table with tried and tested recipes you can trust. more about us!

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