Cleaning Pan From Cacio y Pepe???

[CocoDan]

Any tips on cleaning the cheese stuck on the bottom of the pan and pasta bowl from Cacio y Pepe? Also, how to keep it from getting there?
Don't Enjoy Cleaning,
CocoDan

[alarash]

Hi CocoDan,

I cooked Cacio e Pepe tonight for my wife, and couldn't resist responding.

When I see that cheese is starting to clump or stick to the pan, I scoop another half ladle of salt water from the pot the noodles were boiled in and add it to the cheese/noodle mixture, and with a little heat, the cheese clumps mostly fold into the noodles.

It's a simple dish, but must be done delicately to get it right. I've had variable success and still need practice, but I'd give myself a B+ for tonight's version. I served it alongside a pan fried 6 oz tri-tip steak, which I find to be very flavorful, though a bit tougher than traditional cuts.

alarash

[CocoDan]

Sounds good. Did you do the recipe with or without olive oil and butter. I tried it both ways and frankly, I liked it better with just the pasta water, pepper and cheese (no oil and butter).
Enjoy,
CocoDan

[ricepad]

Drizzle a little bit of olive oil in the bowl (while it's still clean and dry) and wipe it around with a folded paper towel to put a really thin layer of oil on the bottom. That should help keep the cheese from sticking so much.

[CocoDan]

Thanks to you both. My wife tried each method and got pan and bowl clean. Next time it's my turn she insists. Maybe we only order that out.
CocoDan

[ttoommyy]

"Next time it's my turn she insists. Maybe we only order that out."

LOL

Glad we could help.

[ttoommyy]

Fill the pan with a little water and bring it to a simmer on the stove. This should help to loosen the stuck on cheese.

[splatgirl]

Soak, plastic scrubbie, elbow grease + or - Barkeepers Friend.
No way around it, but tossing the cheese with the pasta only in the serving bowl might eliminate one.