#1645
WED, FEB 4, 2026
Cacio e Pepe Cabbage
Calories (per serving)450 kcal
Notes
20260204, #BreakfastDiary 1634, -2°C/cloudy
Cacio means cheese, pepe means pepper, so cacio e pepe is a simple Italian pasta made with nothing but (pecorino romano) cheese and pepper. Today it's cacio e pepe cabbage - made with cabbage instead of pasta.
Just as pepper was once used as a symbol of wealth among nobles in the Middle Ages, I agonized over which pepper to use among white, green, red, black, and even a five-pepper blend - and settled on black in the end. The original really is the best.
About 450kcal, Cacio e Pepe Cabbage.
Ingredients
Check items off while grocery shopping - it’s remembered here.
Steps
- 01
Slice the cabbage thin and set aside.
- 02
Coarsely crush the whole black peppercorns in a mortar. (Grinding them finer would probably be better.)
- 03
Heat a pan over medium heat, add the crushed pepper, and toast for about 1 minute. Add 1T olive oil and 2T butter and cook a bit longer.
- 04
Add the cabbage and stir-fry until wilted. Once wilted, reduce to low heat, cover, and cook about 5 minutes until completely soft.
- 05
Add 2T water and mix well, then grate in the pecorino romano cheese - about 1/2 cup is enough. Mix thoroughly so the cheese melts in. Taste and season with salt.
- 06
Plate the cabbage and top with pecorino romano cheese and pepper. A squeeze of lemon would be nice too.
Other years, Feb 4
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Original Credit
Inspired by @thatguywywy