Spicy Midnight Pasta with Pecorino

Late-night pasta cravings? Meet your go-to meal, midnight pasta (pasta mezzanotte). It's spicy, salty, cheesy, and ridiculously delicious!

📝 Ingredients

• Kosher salt
• 1 pound dried spaghetti ( or linguine)
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2-3 grated garlic cloves (or enough to make 1 heaping tablespoon)
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper (more or less to taste)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese (or Parmesan cheese (or a 50-50 mixture)
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a small handful of salt, 2-3 tablespoons. Add the spaghetti or pasta of your choice and cook until al dente. Just before draining, scoop out ½ cup of the boiling pasta water and reserve.
2. 2Meanwhile, heat the butter and extra-virgin olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat until the butter is melted. Stir in the garlic and cook until it starts to sizzle and smell delicious, about 30 seconds. Add the red and black pepper.
3. 3Add the drained pasta to the sauté pan over low heat, along with ½ cup of the cheese. Dribble in 2-3 tablespoons of the pasta water, enough to blend with the cheese and coat the pasta. Stir in the parsley
4. 4Serve in bowls, with additional cheese sprinkled over.