Traditional Roman pasta dish Cacio e Pepe is a comfort food, which is often the case with few-ingredient dishes, but it’s also one that has a touch of sophistication. The simple act of frying freshly ground pepper in olive oil to the height of its fragrance will make your kitchen smell like you’ve been up to something fancy. Unlike a desperation dinner of cold cereal or frozen pizza, you might even invite the neighbours to sit down and join you if they happened to drop by. Cacio e Pepe, however, is undoubtedly best enjoyed alone, in what might be your first moment of silence all day, with a glass of whatever red wine is lying around already open. Cook a little extra, as this, like any comfort food, begs for seconds.

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