1Toast the pepper in a wide pan until fragrant, then crack it coarsely.
2Boil the pasta in half the usual water, well salted — save a mug before draining.
3Whisk the pecorino with a splash of cool pasta water into a thick cream.
4Two minutes early, move the pasta to the pepper pan with a ladle of pasta water.
5Off the heat, wait a breath, then toss with the pecorino cream.
6Loosen with pasta water until glossy. More pecorino on top.