This small, round pasta is named for its resemblance to peppercorns, so why not pair it with black pepper, which, along with lemon, adds brightness to the parmesan?
Ingredients
2 cups acini di pepe (less than 1 pound)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Cook acini di pepe in a 4-quart pot of boiling salted water (2 teaspoons salt for 3 quart water) until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain pasta.
Melt butter in same pot with oil. Remove from heat and stir in pasta, cheese, zest, pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 cup cooking water (add more to moisten if necessary).
