Creamy Lemon-Pecorino Rigatoni with Chili Flake Kick
A delightful pasta dish that incorporates the creaminess of butter and Pecorino cheese, freshness of lemon, along with a kick of heat from chili flakes. Topped off with silky egg yolks for a remarkable finish.
Place eggs in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 9 minutes. Rinse the eggs under cold water, peel them and set them aside.
2
In a large pot, add 2 quarts of water and bring to a boil. Stir in 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.
3
Add the rigatoni to the boiling water and cook until al dente, about 9 minutes.
4
While the pasta is cooking, melt 6 tablespoons of the unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
5
Add the finely grated lemon zest, fresh lemon juice and crushed red pepper flakes to the skillet and give it a stir.
6
Once the pasta is ready, rescue some pasta water (about 2 cups) and set aside, then drain the pasta.
7
Add the cooked rigatoni to the skillet, along with 1 cup of the reserved pasta water. Cook, tossing often, until the pasta is well covered with the sauce.
8
Add the Pecorino cheese, the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to the pasta. Toss until melted.
9
Grate the hard-boiled egg yolks on top of the pasta before serving.