Cacio e Pepe Kugel
Lilia, Brooklyn, NY
“This dish takes my Jewish heritage and love for Italian food and combines them in a traditional kugel (essentially a noodle casserole) with the flavors of cacio e pepe, a traditional Roman spaghetti dish. The result is a super simple dish packed with tons of pepper and the creaminess of Pecorino, creating an indulgent comfort food from two cultures meeting in the middle.” —Missy Robbins
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ricotta, whipped in a food processor or stand mixer until smooth
- 1 pound mascarpone
- 3 cups Pecorino Romano cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 pounds dried linguine, fettuccine, or spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon butter
Method
Heat the oven to 350°F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and generously season with salt.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, mascarpone, and 2 cups of the Pecorino. Stir well to combine. Stir in the black pepper and salt.
Place the pasta in the water and cook until just barely al dente, about 6 minutes. (The pasta will finish cooking in the casserole.) Drain and transfer it to the seasoned cheese mixture, stirring to coat the pasta.
Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with the butter. Transfer the pasta–cheese mixture to the baking dish and top with the remaining cheese. Bake until the top and sides are crispy and golden brown, about 35 minutes. Sprinkle with more black pepper for garnish, cut into squares, and serve.
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From Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner...Life! Recipes and Adventures from My Home Kitchen by Missy Robbins with Carrie King/Rizzoli Publishing.
Yield
6 to 8 servings
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