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Cracked Pepper Honey Smoked Salmon Cacio e Pepe|Weston Table

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Cracked Pepper Honey Smoked Salmon® Cacio e Pepe

Made from sheep's milk cheese, Pecorino Romano is usually the star ingredient of possibly the simplest pasta made in Italy. However, dare we offer up that this Honey Smoked Salmon twist is the new star ingredient and also note that it adds only one more step that makes this a protein rich weeknight supper tasty enough to also wow weekend guests? Hot smoked salmon from the Honey Smoked Fish Co.® is a fresh, healthy Omega-3 rich, nutritionally dense, pre-cooked package of oh-my yum. The salmon is a flavor bomb that is as easy as opening and flaking the fish with a fork (or as I did, with my fingers) to add to this cacio e pepe pasta variation for an everyday extraordinary meal. The floral, earthy notes of the peppercorns used to season the salmon are the same used to make this ready in under 20 minute classic dish. Bellissimo!

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cuisine Italian
difficulty Simple
season Year Round
serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound perciatelli (bucatini) or spaghetti
  • 1 tablespoon sea salt
  • 1 1/2 cups Pecorino Romano, grated
  • 2 teaspoons black peppercorns
  • 3 cups reserved pasta water
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 8 ounces Cracked Pepper Honey Smoked Fish Co. Salmon, skin removed and flaked into bite-sized pieces

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the sea salt.
  2. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until just under al dente (the pasta will continue to cook when added to the skillet).
  3. Pour pasta into the same skillet used to toast the pepper and place over low heat.
  4. Add pasta water and butter and toss together until butter just melts.
  5. Add the grated cheese and black pepper and continue to toss together until cheese melts and a creamy sauce forms (add more reserved water if necessary). Add the Cracked Pepper Honey Smoked Salmon and toss until the salmon is distributed evenly into the dish.
  6. Top with more grated cheese and serve.

Kitchen Notes

Do not overcook the pasta! Be disciplined in reserving even a bit more of the pasta water than the recipe calls for--it is essential to the silky texture of this minimal ingredient pasta dish and if you have left overs, a splash of the starch water will bring the pasta right back to life. Use the best quality pasta the budget affords. Parmesan may be subbed for the Pecorino Romano, but you may need a bit more salt to taste and the overall flavor will be a bit more subtle. 
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