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prep time
5 min
cook time
5 min
ready time
10 min
Easy 3-Ingredient Keto Za’atar Cacio E Pepe Zoodles
Cacio e Pepe means "cheese and pepper" and is a classic Italian dish from Rome. The dish is made with grated Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly cracked black pepper. The addition of Za’atar brings a lovely fragrant twist to this 3-ingredient Keto pasta. This is a simple dish, so it is important to use good-quality ingredients when making 3-Ingredient recipes.
What is Za’atar? Za’atar is a flavorful Middle Eastern spice blend made of savory dried herbs like Sesame Seeds (40%), Sumac, Thyme, Marjoram, Oregano, Basil, and Salt. You can easily find Za’atar in most supermarkets.
Can I use a different cheese? Traditional cacio e pepe is made with Pecorino Romano cheese, however, if you do not have this to hand, you can also use grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
Can I use alternative cooking methods? To reduce the water content released from the zucchini when pan cooking, preheat the oven to 400F. Spiralize the zucchini and spread the zoodles out on a baking tray and bake in the oven for 17 minutes and set aside for later.
What can I serve the dish with? Cacio e pepe is a simple but rich dish. Serve it on its own or round it out with a rocket salad, simply dressed with extra virgin olive oil.
Note: Butter, pepper, and oil are staple store cupboard and fridge ingredients. Thus, they are not counted as part of the 3 ingredients.
Net Carbs
3.4 g
Fiber
2.1 g
Total Carbs
5.5 g
Protein
8.2 g
Fats
43.4 g
447 cals
#1 Low Carb & Keto Diet App Since 2010
Track macros, calories, and access top Keto recipes.
Ingredients
Zucchini, cooked from fresh
150 g
Butter, unsalted
25 g
Seasoning Blend, Za'atar
1 tsp
Black pepper, ground
1 tsp
Pecorino Romano cheese
30 g
Olive oil
1 tbsp
Recipe Steps
steps 4
10 min
Step 1
Grate the Pecorino Romano cheese on the small edge of a box grater, and set it aside. Spiralize the zucchini and set it aside. You will need a spiralizer to make the noodles. Otherwise, you can make 3 cuts lengthwise with a sharp knife into the zucchini and use a vegetable peeler along the zucchini to make ribbon noodles.Step 2
Add the butter to a pan set over medium heat. Add the cracked black pepper and za’atar and stir to combine. Simmer for a couple of minutes until the butter begins to foam.Step 3
Add the zoodles to the pan. Use tongs to coat the zoodles in the butter-pepper sauce. Cook for 1 minute, enough to soften slightly but retain a bit of bite. Add the Pecorino Romano cheese to the pan, coating the zoodles.Step 4
Immediately transfer the zoodles to a dish. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Serve.
