Skip to main content

Cacio e Pepe (Cheese and Pepper) Spaghetti Squash

While the squash cooks, work on the chops (recipe follows).

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1 4-pound spaghetti squash
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1 cup grated Romano cheese
Salt and lots of coarse ground black pepper

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    To microwave squash: Cut in half and seed. Place 1/4 inch water in a microwave-safe dish. Place the squash in the dish, the cut sides down—the sides will overlap. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on High for 13 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid in a bowl. Shred the squash and add the “spaghetti” to the bowl with the reserved liquid.

    Step 2

    To boil squash: Cut in half and seed. Boil the squash until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Place 1/4 cup, a ladleful, of cooking water into a bowl, then drain and shred the squash. Transfer to the bowl with the reserved liquid.

    Step 3

    Toss the squash with the reserved liquid and dress with EVOO, lots of cheese, salt to taste, and lots of black pepper and serve.

Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Get Real Meals
Read More
Like tiny tomato galettes and chimichurri grilled shrimp.
Like swordfish steaks with tomatoes and Peruvian-style tofu.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Punchy, make-ahead chimichurri adds a bright, fresh finish to this easy summer dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Thinly sliced and cooked hot and fast, pork tenderloin is the juicy, cook-quicking weeknight champion of this vegetable-heavy stir-fry.
With a crisp crust, garlicky mayo, and a juicy slice of tomato.
The secret to juicy grilled chicken, a sheet-cake swap for banana pudding, and more reasons to light up the grill and have people over all summer long.