Cacio e Pepe White Beans with Buttered Bread and a Jammy Egg

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp Crushed black pepper (About 1 tablespoon; use freshly crushed black pepper if possible.)
• 2 knobs Butter (Approximately 28 g total; for cooking the beans.)
• 1 tin White beans (Drained; approximately 400 g per tin, yielding about 240 g beans.)
• Lemon juice (A squeeze, approximately 1 tablespoon, or to taste.)
• Parmesan cheese (Finely grated, to taste; approximately 30 g.)
• 2 slices Crusty bread (For serving; approximately 80 g total.)
• 1 tbsp Butter (For buttering the bread; approximately 14 g.)
• 1 Egg (Boiled for 6 1/2 minutes for a jammy yolk.)

Steps

1. 1

   Drain the white beans and grate the Parmesan. Have the bread and butter ready for serving. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil for the egg.

2. 2

   Lower the egg carefully into the boiling water and cook for 6 1/2 minutes. Transfer it immediately to cold water to stop the cooking, then peel it when cool enough to handle. The white should be set while the yolk remains jammy.

3. 3

   Place a skillet or shallow pan over medium heat. Add the crushed black pepper and toast it for about 1 minute, stirring, until fragrant. Do not let it burn.

4. 4

   Add the butter to the toasted pepper. Let it sizzle for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until melted and fragrant.

5. 5

   Add the drained white beans to the pepper-butter mixture. Stir gently so the beans are coated without breaking them up.

6. 6

   Add a squeeze of lemon juice and the grated Parmesan. Stir to combine and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and the sauce is glossy and lightly creamy.

7. 7

   While the beans cook, toast the crusty bread until crisp and warm, then spread it with butter.

8. 8

   Spoon the beans into serving bowls. Serve immediately with the buttered bread and the peeled jammy egg, halved or left whole.

Notes

The source gives approximate quantities for the butter, lemon, and Parmesan, so adjust them to taste. The stated 6 1/2-minute egg timing assumes the egg is lowered into already-boiling water.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• vegetarian
• Italian-inspired
• one-pan
• high-fiber
• quick meal
• stovetop
• summer