Authentic Pasta alla Gricia Recipe Grisciano, Italy

Pasta alla gricia, an iconic traditional Roman pasta dish, combines only a few simple ingredients, making it a tasty exercise in culinary minimalism. All it takes is guanciale (a traditional Italian salt-cured pork jowl/cheek bacon), Pecorino Romano (one of Italy's oldest cheeses, made of sheep's milk), black pepper, and pasta (preferably rigatoni or spaghetti). This simplicity does not result in scarcity when it comes to taste. In fact, it leaves plenty of space for the rich taste of guanciale to cut through, which is contrasted by the intensity of Pecorino Romano and black pepper. However, the short list of ingredients does not allow for much in terms of variation, especially with guanciale and Pecorino Romano. The former, guanciale, has a significantly more assertive and savory flavor than other pork products such as pancetta. Due to its high-fat ratio, its texture ... Read more