Before I start this post, can you hold on for one second?
(proceeds to run around the house screaming and yelling)
Guys I am pumped. Good Eats is BACK! Well it’s more reloaded than it is back. Alton Brown has updated some of his past shows, before he embarks on new culinary trails.
In the early days of this blog, I would review the new recipes he would release on Good Eats. I am excited to have the change to bring back those types of posts for the Reloaded series.
Why Recipe Review?
Why I like to review recipes as oppose to just writing my own is that I like to share recipes that not only brought me good food but also taught me something that I use it other recipes down the road. The recipe I am talking about today is no different.
Pantry Raid I – Use Your Noodle – The Reload
The 2nd episode of Good Eats Reloaded that aired was Pantry Raid I – Use Your Noodle – The Reload. In the original episode I was introduced to bronze dies and have been buying pasts made with them every since.
In the Reloaded version, Alton has changed his tune about pasta. He always said pasta needed to be cooked in a gallon of water. But he has to come to learn and except that you can cook it in in far less.
And sometimes that has huge advantages.
One example – Cacio e Pepe – a dish that contains just cheese, oil, and pepper. The key to it’s deliciousness is cooking the pasta in very little water and then using that very starchy water to create a creamy sauce that doesn’t contain any actual cream.
Recipe Notes
Here are my observations from making this dish.
- I have to admit after years of cooking pasta in copious amounts of water it was very strange to only cover my pasta with enough water to cover it. Just as it was equally strange starting my pasta in cold water.
- A mistake I made the first time was not covering the pan as it came to a boil. I lost too much water to evaporation getting to a boil that i need to add more water later. I won’t make this mistake again.
- It may seem like when you are adding the pasta to the cheese and water that it will never come together. Just keep working it and working it and working it and at one point it all of sudden became a sauce. Like Alton said it was like magic.
- The recipe called for grating your own Pecorino Romano. I would normally be all for that. When I went to buy the cheese at a Kroger store, it was significantly more expensive to buy it whole than some already grated. This Kroger does have a Murray’s cheese counter, so their grated cheese are actually fresher and high quality than others, so in this case I decided to save the money.
Red Peppercorns
I used red peppecorns. Not pink peppercorns that you find everywhere. Red peppercorns are hard to find. They are the fully ripened fruit that has been allowed to dry. Their flavor is more pronounced, sweeter, with a bright floral taste and all the bite.
I got the red peppercorns from the Spice House. They were grown in Cambodia. There is a fascinating story behind them you can read when you order them.
Recipe Review
What a darling dish. Very simple ingredients yet big flavor. You got the cheese flavor, but it’s not like eating mac & cheese.
The pepper Alton calls for though is pretty intense. The dish was super spicy. With a name like Cacio e Pepe it should be spicy, but I think a lot of people would be turned off with the amount of pepper used. It was too overwhelming for my wife.
What I recommend is staring with half the pepper he calls for, and see how you like it. In the recipe that I re-wrote below you will find me saying to use 1 tablespoon of pepper. he calls for 2, plus another 3/4 teaspoon when served.
As I mentioned I made mine with red peppercorns, but I expect most people to turn to the easy to find black peppercorns. You could also experiment with using white peppercorns, that have less of a bite.
What I don’t want you to ever do is used pre-ground black pepper. Just don’t do it. You will be missing the key flavor that makes this dish if you do that.
Overall this is a great dish that can be thrown together in not too much time for a quick dinner. I definitely want to be a part of our regular rotation.
Alton Brown’s Cacio e Pepe
A simple pasta dish made with starchy pasta water, cheese, oil, and lots of pepper. The recipe was created by Alton Brown. I did cut the peeper in half because my wife and I thought it was pretty strong and I read reviews online saying the same. I have written the instructions in my own words.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground peppercorns black, white, or red
- 3 1/2 ounces Pecorino-Romano cheese
- 1 1/2 ounces freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3/4 – 1 cup starchy pasta water
Instructions
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Combine pasta and salt in a high sided saute pan.
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Add enough cold water to cover the pasta. Cover the pan if you have a lid. Bring to a boil over high heat.
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When water reaches a boil, remove the lid and stir with a pair of tongs.
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Decrease the heat to medium. Make sure the pasta remains submerged. Only add more water if the pan looks dry.
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While pasta is cooking, in a large mixing bowl combine the pepper, and both cheeses. You can save a little bit of these cheese if you want for topping of the pasta at the end.
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Combine the ingredients until they form a thick paste and set aside.
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After 5 minutes of simmering, ladle a cup of the water into a measuring cup.
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Start with a 3/4 cup and slowly drizzle the bowl with the cheese. Combine until smooth. If too clumbly you can add more of the water.
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At about the 10 minute mark, the pasta should be al dente. Check frequently for doneness.
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Using tongs, remove the pasta from the pan, allowing it to drain in midair for a few seconds before adding it to the mixing bowl.
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Stir vigorously with the tongs for 2 minutes. It may look like it’s not going to come together, but give it time and a lot of force. If it’s still too clumby add more cooking water.
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Serving pipping hot!
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