If you didn’t have a nonna to do so when you were a wee lucky thing, it’s more than likely that Marcella Hazan was the person who introduced you to the concept of a spaghetti frittata, a cozy mess of leftover spaghetti, scrambled egg, some butter, parsley and a fistful of parmesan, cooked in a skillet and cut into wedges. It’s unfancy food at its best, as should be no surprise from the woman who was very distressed by complicated chefs’ recipes, wondering “Why not make it simple?”
So when I first saw Food & Wine’s Cacio e Pepe Pasta Pie on Pinterest earlier this month, as one does, my first thought was “Oooh, so impossible-to-achieve outside a food styling studio pretty,” (because, I mean, look at it) followed by “Wait, that’s not cacio e pepe” (a Roman dish with exactly three ingredients — pecorino, black pepper and spaghetti, usually fresh tonnarelli, and if you can forgive me for being pedantic, definitely no cheddar), followed by “Wouldn’t all of that egg custard leak from my springform?” (answer: yes, and woe is my oven floor) and then “I wonder what Marcella Hazan would have thought of this.” Would she have been distraught by the springform, perturbed by the use of three types of cheese, shaking her head over the finish under the broiler?
Well, if she’s anything like the rest of us, I think she’d be too busy enjoying it to ask such questions because this dish — which I’d liken to the halfway point between a spaghetti frittata and a spaghetti quiche — is spectacular. I made it on a whim a couple weeks ago (because that’s my thing these days) and even though my peeling wood-veneer kitchen counter is the furthest cry from a photography studio, it was a total stunner. And while this is unequivocally comfort food — pasta, eggs, and a glorious amount of cheese, yesss — something about eating it in tall wedges with a green salad felt almost civilized, humble food raised to its most centerpiece-worthy calling, and all from just a handful of ingredients. We’re going to be making this a lot this winter, I can tell.
One year ago: Caramelized Onion and Gruyere Biscuits
Two years ago: Homemade Dulce de Leche
Three years ago: Intensely Chocolate Sables
Four years ago: Potato Chip Cookies
Five years ago: Roast Chicken with Dijon Sauce
Six years ago: Black Bean Soup with Toasted Cumin Seed Crema + Cranberry Syrup and an Intensely Almond Cake
Seven years ago: Mushroom Bourguignon and Sugar Puffs
Eight years ago: Leek and Swiss Chard Tart
Nine years ago: Grapefruit Yogurt Cake and Pasta with Sausage Tomatoes and Mushrooms
And for the other side of the world:
Six Months Ago: Tomato and Fried Provolone Sandwich
1.5 Years Ago: Bourbon Slush Punch
2.5 Years Ago: Mama Canales-Garcia’s Avocado Shrimp Salsa
3.5 Years Ago: Zucchini Bread Pancakes
4.5 Years Ago: Corn, Buttermilk and Chive Popovers
Spaghetti Pie with Pecorino and Black Pepper
Adapted from Justin Chapple at Food & Wine
This pie plays off the flavors of classic cacio e pepe — these flavors will be, delightfully, the strongest — but, of course, I fiddled with it a little. The first time, I made it with 8 ounces each of pecorino romano and fontina (because although I love cheddar, I just couldn’t). The second time, I made with less of each (which was a mistake) and because I’ve become That Person, the kind of person that needs to see some green before I can allow something to become a regular meal, I added about a cup of blanched and finely chopped broccoli rabe (which was not). That said, while we enjoyed our green-flecked spaghetti wedges, we agreed we’d have liked it just as much with the greens on the side, preferably in a garlicky and pepper flake sauteed heap.
A few important cooking notes: You must wrap your springform tightly in foil or you and your oven floor will end up in a very bad mood. Please (I beg here) cook your pasta until it’s a good two minutes from done as it will continue cooking in the oven and mushy pasta makes me sad. The greens here are optional (see above) but keep in mind that if you add them, you’ll want to do your best to remove every extra drop of moisture and anticipate that it will take longer to set. Finally, to me, good aged pecorino (usually sold with a black rind) makes all the difference here in providing a salty, funky kick. You can use parmesan if it’s all you’ve got, but you might find that you need more salt if you do.
Butter for greasing springform
1/2 pound broccoli rabe, toughest stems saved for another use, chopped into few-inch segments (optional)
1 pound dried spaghetti
1 1/2 cups milk
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 to 3 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons coarse or kosher salt
8 ounces aged pecorino cheese, finely grated, divided
8 ounces fontina cheese, grated, divided
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and this is very important, wrap the outside of the springform, focusing on the places where the ring meets the base, tightly in aluminum foil. Set aside.
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. If using broccoli rabe, add it to the pot and boil for 1 to 2 minutes, until it has some give. Fish it out with a large slotted spoon and drain it well. Set aside.
Add spaghetti to boiling water and cook until (this is also important) 2 minutes shy of done, so very al dente, as the spaghetti will continue cooking in the oven. Drain well and let cool slightly.
If using broccoli rabe, wring all extra moisture out of it and blot greens on paper towels to be extra careful. Mince rabe into very small bits. You’ll have about 1 cup total.
In a large bowl, whisk eggs and milk together with salt and pepper. Stir in all but 1/2 cup of each cheese and chopped rabe, if using. Add spaghetti and toss to coat.
Pour into prepared springform and sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes (without greens) and up to 15 minutes more (with greens, as they add moisture too), until the cheese is melted and bubbling and a knife inserted into the center of the pie and turned slightly will not release any loose egg batter into the center. If the top of your pie browns too quickly before the center is set, cover it with foil for the remaining cooking time.
Turn on your oven’s broiler. Broil the pie a few inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until browned on top. Cut along springform ring to loosen, then remove ring. Run a spatula underneath the pie to loosen the base and slide onto a serving plate. Cut into wedges.
Can this be made in a cast iron skillet, or does it require a springform pan?
AD — I suspect it would be just fine in a cast-iron skillet, but you might be safest going to a 10-inch as they can be less tall than springforms.
If I were able to get around my city (DC) without careening into huge snow banks today, I’d rush out and get these ingredients right now… it’s stunning!
Also, just a little sidebar speaking of Marcella Hazan… have you ever tried her smothered cabbage or smothered cabbage and rice soup? I heard about it a while back on Orangette and oh dear, it is the most transformative and delicious thing I’ve ever done to cabbage. Big recommend.
Tell me about make ahead options? Bake in springform and freeze? Or freeze before baking?
Like 90% of recipes, outside of filled dumplings like pot stickers or pierogi, cook, then freeze.
This is a timely recipe for my house! We tried the NYT version of cacio e pepe last week, and the cheese just got too clumpy to be good. This looks very doable and delicious. I really think I am making this tonight. Thank you!
This is totally out of the box different for me! I love the idea though! And can’t wait to try it…seriously. So unique!
What a great idea! Do you think adding some sundried tomatoes in there would work out ok?
Fabulous, until 2 minutes ago I had no idea about supper. I’ve got leftover pasta, spinach and a ton of cheddar, great.
Nicole
I’ve had that very Food & Wine recipe saved for months but never got around to it bc I don’t have a spring form pan. So I guess you’re telling me I need to get a spring form. Okaaaay
I made a similar spaghetti pie in a regular (large) cake pan and it came out just fine. Just be sure and grease it well. I also lined the bottom with parchment.
I am planning a meal for a ski weekend and this could very well be the ticket! large and comforting and easy to make.
I’m wondering about variations:
* vegetables: anything other than broccoli rabe that would be a good fit? like maybe regular broccoli, or sundried tomatoes and spinach? And any harm in adding more than the amount you used? (I’m definitely That Person as well when it comes to veggies, but don’t want to get too out of balance and have the pie fall apart.)
* meat: would chopped ham or bacon (cooked separately and fat drained) work, in addition to or instead of the veggies?
OMG, I love spaghetti pies. I was thinking of making one this past weekend but didn’t get around to it. Geez, maybe I’m telepathic? If you were also thinking of making chocolate cake, we might have evidence for telepathy.
Back to spaghetti pies, @Michelle, sundried tomatoes would be heaven, IMHO. I’m biased, I eat them straight from the jar, because I’m an adult and therefore I can. I bet olives would be good too, but would change the flavor a lot from Deb’s original. So I’d have to make two, the original, and then then variations. Twist my arm. Speaking of variations, FWIW, Deborah Madison has another great noodle pie, using linguine instead of spaghetti, fresh basil and feta for flavors. It’s in her Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone.
Other additions — The key things to keep in mind are
1) They must be chopped very small or they won’t toss well with spaghetti.
2) If they are wet, you might consider reducing the amount of milk or it might take forever to set. Even with very well wrung-out and dabbed on paper towels greens, ours took an additional 15 minutes to set.
3) I love the idea of a meal-in-one-pan but as you’re probably going to want to have something else on your plate besides the wedge of pie, this is also a perfect place to add a green vegetable or proscuitto. Plus, you’ll get a lot more vegetables in on the side. I wouldn’t add too much more than 1 finely chopped cup of vegetables (as we did) here.
Could I use an angel food cake pan? (my springform form is too smallish for this, but If I had to, I could make a 3/4 recipe . . .)
To fight the woes of the leaky springform, we bought a push pan two years ago and it is awesome! It does not leak!
Just echoing Allie’s comment from above re: Hazan’s smothered cabbage soup… It is in my personal Top 5 list for comfort food, and I make it at least several times every year to survive frigid Michigan winters. It sure doesn’t look pretty, but after one taste, I don’t care.
The pasta pie looks yum, but I want more info on your cutting board. Dimensions and thickness please! I’m taking a woodworking class and am on a cutting board kick. I made a ginormous over-the-sink cutting board for my nephew and his wife for Christmas because they had no counter space and am thinking about smaller ones now.
This is just fun and silly and kid-friendly, company-friendly and inviting. Can’t wait to give it a whirl. Obviously, the presentation here just has me giggling and I love that today.
This is similar to a favorite recipe from Gourmet March 1993 called Pepperoni Spaghetti Cakes. Same principle–cooked pasta mixed with egg and cheese binder– but with the addition of finely chopped red pepper, scallions, garlic, and pepperoni (or salami) and cooked in a skillet with olive oil to form a flat cake with a nice “crust” on both sides. Yum!
Bless you: there can not be enough baked pasta dishes in the world. Nor excuses for “a nice simple green salad,” which I’m pretty sure will end up on the plate with this!
I have never had this before but it looks great. Thanks for sharing.
Well, I’m about to reveal myself as The Worst but I wonder how this would work with spiralized vegetables. It looks glorious as is, though!
Spaghetti squash!
I was searching through the comments wondering about spiralizing my zucchini instead of using pasta. I suspect we might want to salt and drain it for awhile.
That was a beautiful article on Marcella Hazan!
I think that this is a stunner, no fancy photo studio required. I love your addition of broccoli rabe- as much as I love cheese and eggs and pasta I feel much better about eating them with the addition of greens. Gorgeous.
Conversation that just happened:
Me: “I have a new recipe I want to make next week!”
Husband: “Smitten Kitchen updated, didn’t it?”
This looks so delicious!
Deb, do you have any experience freezing this? I’m expecting in a few weeks and trying to pack my chest freezer with as much as possible…
I am obsessed with the look of this spaghetti pie. It’s GORGEOUS and it’s exactly what I want right now. Thanks, Deb!
Definitely agree about mushy pasta. Just made the baked ziti from The Food Lab cookbook, in which it is recommended to soak dried pasta in hot water for 30 mins instead of boiling it when ultimately baking pasta. Tried this with the ziti and it was successful.
Spaghetti pie was one of my favorites as a kid, so I’m definitely going to try this recipe with The Food Lab’s style.
I’ve seen a few recipes for spaghetti pie popping up and this one looks amazing! I’ll have to try it soon!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Noo! I was so excited and determined to make your cacio e pepe recipe, and now you’ve gone and confuzzled me! *runs around in confused circles *
I miss broccoli rabe! I can’t seem to find it anywhere in LA. Broccolini just isn’t the same – it doesn’t have that deliciously bitter taste.
This is called a “timballo”, similar to Food and Wine, May 2015, Justin Chapple: Cacio e Pepe Pasta Pie (yes, it has white cheddar and fontina besides the pecorino, but it works, this is quite different from the classic cacio e pepe pasta). A tip for the leaky springform pan is to cut a slightly bigger round of parchment paper and lock the springform pan over it so that it acts like a washer in a faucet, but you must use one with the outer lip as shown in the photos above. Only a bead of cheese sauce will ooze out. I am afraid Martha Stewart’s latest cheesecake pan only at Macy’s is the easiest solution. With a normal springform pan the leakage can seep under the cavity under the overturned bottom (so there is no lip to catch the product after baking) filling it up. In any case always use a parchment round in the upside down bottom of a cheesecase pan—you can then just slide off the finished result.
I want to take this to a potluck. It sounds like it would taste great at room temp, so am wondering what the best way to do it would be: cook in the a.m. (for a lunch potluck) and remove from pan and refrig. till an hour before the potluck? Any other ideas?
Oh this dish brings up so many childhood memories! My mediterrenean grandmother often made this on a whim, but here’s the twist: she used to fry it…. Wait until the oil is hot and spoon the spaghetti-egg mixture into the pan – flip once with the use of a plate. It used to be crunchy from the outside but soft and oozy from the inside, sometimes she would even add bacon!
I’ve never made a spaghetti pie in my life before, but now that I saw your recipe I do have to try it. I mean, spaghettis are great, and in a pie? Woah!
http://www.makeandmess.com/
How about lining the springform with parchment or foil?
Hi, Ann the RV’er posting again. Re Kate #23…same conversation has been held in our home, more times then you would think! Thanks again for all your hard work and pictures!
Oh yum– I know what I’m making for dinner tonight (with whole wheat pasta)! And as a dietitian, I’m so proud that you are “the kind of person that needs to see some green before I can allow something to become a regular meal.” It’s the best kind of person to be :)
First time writer and a long time follower.
I have been cooking similar dishes for many years but I call them ‘savory noodle kugel’ :-)
Add some Bolognese Sauce and you got ‘Lasagna kugel’
Yum! I’d take a slice of that!
I saw this, and immediately riffed off into a chocolate version with currants plumped up with warm brandy, served with whipped cream …
Please tell us your recipe for a chocolate spaghetti pie.
My grandma used to make “spaghetti pie” all the time, except hers included little bits of sausage or meatball. It’s one of those recipes that was always relayed to me as “Oh, just throw in whatever is in the kitchen! Some of this, some of that!” and so as a staunch recipe follower, I have always been hesitant to make it myself. But this!! You have given me a recipe! Can’t wait to try it. :)
I fry this – and use no eggs. The spaghetti set anyway.its more like a giant spaghetti pancake maybe, and it’s a great way to use leftovers. I actually always make more spaghetti than we can eat so we have leftovers for this! Also, it only takes 10 minutes or so.
The fancy thing would be to cook them in a wok, sautéed with oli, garlic, anchovies and capers, and unmould a giant spaghetti dome!
I make a version that goes way back to the original Silver Palate cook book, described as a fritatta. This one is constructed in two layers: the first the regular spaghetti mixture topped with a bit of spaghetti sauce and sausage but not to the edge, then topped by the regular spaghetti mixture and topped with cheese and cooked as you suggest.. I still make this once or twice a winter, and my guests are always freaked out when they see the slice with the red sauce peeking through. The tomato also adds a bit of acid to the taste profile and gives a little bit of a “punch” in flavor.
This kills my non-grain eating heart. Well, non-grain eating about 80% of the time. Which means… this is TOTALLY HAPPENING. Damn, Deb. This looks so so crazy good. My favorite thing to do with leftover long pasta is add it to a couple whisked eggs and make a franken-omelet, topped with parmesan. Yes yes yes to this.
I’m going to attempt to carbonara-ize this tonight with peas and bacon (pancetta if I’m feeling fancy). On my way to the store as we speak!!
RACHEL – I live in LA and I’m pretty sure I saw it in Ralphs the other day (the one on Wilshire & Bundy).
I want to do this with a little crisped pancetta. I think that might be the best thing ever.
Id like to make this for friends, but we need to got other is instead of our house. Could I bake and reheat/add extra cheese on top? They live about 20-30 minutes from us in Dallas metro. They have a wee tot, so I’m thinking of leaving these leftovers as they would go well. :)
Like Erica (#13), I also bought a Kuhn Rikon Push Pan and really like it. It does not leak. I have had a bit of trouble with it not releasing cleanly on the sides when you push the bottom up. I called Kuhn Rikon about it and they told me they no longer produce that pan. So, I am not sure if another company will be making it or if it will no longer be available. It has been the only springform type pan I have ever owned that did not leak. Not one drop.
I feel like this is a dumb question, buuuut…
If I were to make this and then freeze it how would I reheat? Or if I were to give it away as a frozen meal, how would this work? In my mind the beautiful spaghetti pie collapses in to a nasty looking heap
I wonder about trying it with some pepato cheese (goat cheese with peppercorns). We are lucky enough to have a splendidly old-fashioned Italian grocery story in town (the kind that has whole dried fish in baskets, giant cheeses tied with ropes hanging from the ceiling, and a dozen kinds of olives in giant plastic buckets with help-yourself ladles). Many years ago I went in and they gave me a free slice of pepato and I’ve been hooked every since.
We grew up with spaghetti pie. Never in the oven but we have always done it in a nonstick pan. We do it with just pasta, egg, salt and pepper, parm. It’s great before fried as well.
In case your wondering how to flip. Cover the pan with a big plate. Flip the pan over and slide pie back in. This is a wonderful dish and great comfort food. Keep posting amazing recipes.
Thanks, I love anything with pecorino. And the comment that suggested pancetta hits just the right accent for me. I’ve got spaghetti and leftover spinach.
Dinner….?
What if you made this in a casserole dish? Obviously the presentation wouldn’t be nearly as gorgeous, but would it work?
Erica or Deb,
What is. PUSH PAN?
may I suggest to add a couple spoonfuls of powdered milk (whole or skim) to the egg custard if you are to use veggies in it? It’s a very simple trick that does wonders to soak up excess moisture and maybe save some precious baking time – so that your pasta doesn’t get too mushy!
I am totally making this carbonara-style for dinner tonight – with bacon and lots of pecorino. Thanks for the idea!
@MarcellafromItaly: Love the skim milk powder tip-thanks!
Did you put the springform into the oven on the cookie sheet in the picture? Marilyn
I want to make this right now and eat it on a picnic rug, in the Sydney sunshine. Alas, it is 9pm and the kids go back to school tomorrow, plus it is raining. Another time…
Wow so original looks amazing
Thanks for sharing
Im going to try this for sure
OOOOOMG! This looks so yummo. I’m always looking for recipes that my kids will eat that include eggs (our chickens are WAY ahead of us most weeks). This looks like it fits the bill. I might try adding some chopped red pepper, maybe even some onion. I need more veggies in my carbs. I could see even adding ham for the boys. Hmmm….this could be a very useful recipe – thanks!! (btw, LOVE your recipes but rarely take time to tell you that!)
My goodness, this is definetely a winner! I know this bake and I make it instead of lasagna from time to time, it is delicious. You have made it and presented it very well. Wonderful with the goodness of broccoli and the fab taste of pecorino.
OMG!! This is me. This is mine! How have I ever lived this long without experiencing such a magnificent dish!! I will treasure this recipe forever!! I can’t wait to make this. Unfortunately I have to wait until we get home where I have all of the important utensils. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I will be forever indebted to you. Have a wonderful day!!
I have a springform that is a gases bottom with silicone band that never ever leaks.
Looks amazing! Do you think I could use a cast iron skillet?
Lucy! A push pan is like a deep dish tart pan that has a ring of silicone around the edge on which the bottom sits. The silicone forms a tight seal!
Can you tell me how many servings this is? Looks amazing!
I’m Italian and frittatas with leftover pasta are almost more welcome than the pasta itself…if making in a pan, coat the pan with olive oil and a nice layer of fine breadcrumbs, repeat when you flip it….you’ll love it!!!!
Thank you for the post.I like your writing style and I’m trying to start a blog myself, I
think I may read thru all your posts for some ideas!
Thank you once more.
I read your email at 5:30 this morning and remembered the leftover pasta in my fridge-only a 1/2 pound or so. So I proceeded to warm up my cast iron skillet after mixing up the leftovers with s couple of eggs, cream, parsley (the only greens I had readily) and Pecorino Romano cheese. Can I just tell you how good my kitchen smelled on a rainy Wednesday morning???? It was a fabulous breakfast, with leftovers!
Oh yum, this brings me right back to my childhood. My Grammy used to make spaghetti pie for us as a special treat! Thanks for sharing!
Katie
My guide to the Pantone 2016 Colors is on the blog today!
http://lamiabellavita.com/pantone-2016/
Love the dark crispy outside of your spaghetti pie photo. I would call it a spaghetti cake! I often make a spaghetti omelette with leftover pasta. Will have to try this recipe as it looks so grand. Agree with others that it would be good for a potluck dinner.
LOVE Spaghetti Pie. In the past I’ve made mine in a cast iron pan, baked it in the oven and then flipped it on to a plate. Do you think this would work just as well for your recipe?
I just bought some shaved, not grated, parmesan reggiano on sale. Would this work in place of the pecorino and fontina? I’ve never used it in a baked recipe before. Thx.
My mom (who was not Italian, but learned to cook from my dad’s Italian mother) used to make spaghetti pie when I was a kid and I loved it! She would make it in a regular pie dish, so not as lofty and high as your spring form version, but still perfect. I’ve made spaghetti frittata before as a variation, but think I’m going to have to try the spring form version you did here. And, yes, always, always Locatelli Pecorino Romano, it is the best!
will this work with gluten free pasta, like brown rice pasta from TJ’s?
Like Jessica HZ (#35) mentioned, I was also wondering about using foil to line the pan. The foil is going to the recycling bin either way and this strategy would save a dish washing! Any reason not to cook custardy pasta in well buttered foil? Seems the only way to improve on this recipe would be to reducing collateral dish dirtying, so I welcome any insight!
How many will this serve?
Smitten folk – click on Deb’s *Why not make it simple?* to link to the NYT Marcella Hazan’s obituary.
Such a wonderful overview of the great (tough!) lady’s life.
Make sure to watch the video interview w/Mark Bittman!
And for real true aficionados out there – this beautiful tribute from Victor about his beloved wife. https://sarasotamagazine.com/2014/01/31/remembering-marcella-hazan/
@Shelley (#77) – The F&W recipe that Deb used as inspiration says it serves 8. That seems about right for a pound of pasta + eggs + cheese.
Great recipe and pics, and interesting comments thereon. IF I were to add veggies, I’d use chives, leeks and green onions – yes, the green tops, too! – and yellow onions, in respectively smaller portions relative to the amount of spaghetti used. As the guy who “revolutionized the concept of stuffed cabbage by baking it in a Bundt pan” – surely you’ve heard? ;0) – I like the angel food cake pan option, and believe that a nice coat of olive oil would ensure its releasing the pie intact; same would seem to work with a Calphalon pan, too, but watch the rivets! Consider cooking the spaghetti in a chicken or beef broth, and reduce the sale accordingly, to complement the onions’ flavor. And, if you’re lucky enough to find a wheel of marked-down Manchego – roughly akin to a capricious Swiss – sub that for the pecorino a/o fontina. Don’t be shy with the pepper[s], and make sure you used good fresh ones; consider black and white, but not the off-tasting pink. Buon appetito!
Thanks, cR, for the links to Victor’s tribute to Marcella. I still drink un Apertivo di Victor – or two – every now and then, and will toast her memory the next time I do!
I’m soooo happy that you have started including links for 6-month old recipes for the other side of the world! Your recipes are so beautifully seasonal, and given the revoltingly hot weather in New Zealand at present I can’t face most of the wintry ones. Thank you for thinking of those of us down under!
Does this recipe work with fresh pasta as opposed to dry pasta?
Is it absolutely necessary for the pasta to be dry for this to work?
I just finished dinner, and now I want to start all over again and have this instead. Has anyone tried this with spaghetti squash or a gluten-free pasta? I’m gluten intolerant and would love to know if anyone has had any luck with substitutions. Sometimes I find that the water content in spaghetti squash can change the results.
I just made this for dinner. Winner! My husband loved it. As far as how many does it serve, well, uh, it depends on how much you want to pig out. Paul and I ate 2/3 of it with a nice hearty red wine. Yum. I used 2 1/2 t. pepper. It seemed a bit pepper-heavy, which blocked out the taste of the cheeses. I will use less next time. I am not a fan of pecorino (sorry, everyone!) so I substituted Toscano, which was wonderful. I also used fresh organic basil and parsley (no rabe). Very good and pretty too! Thank you Deb. You obviously hit it out of the park (or should I say pantry) on this one! Rainy and windy here on the West Coast too, but in the 50’s. We are spoiled!
cR
Thank you for that link to Victor Hazan’s article; it’s so touching. How lucky they both were to have each other. Have you read her memoir? Lovely.
This looks wonderful. I would like to make it for a friend of mine. What is your advice on the best way for her to reheat it? Thanks.
Deb, your writing mesmerizes me, as usual! Aside from the magic that is this dish, my favorite part of this post is your writing style. I’m amazed that more people don’t comment on it. I’m waiting for you to write an novel about an intrepid female detective who is also a foodie mastering her skills in the kitchen… just sayin’ :)
The colors are awesome and the crispiness is actually seen. I am sure this must be tasting out of the world..:) Thanks for sharing..
Being raised in Italian households, spaghetti pie wasn’t something you made fresh. It was a delicious way to use the leftover pasta from the night before. It is still one of my favorites made by my Nonna and my mother as well. Our family’s tradition is to use the leftover pasta with red meat sauce mixed in, add some diced thick-cut cooked pancetta or even dried sweet italian sausage bits, along with egg, a bit of milk and cheese. Mix it up throw it in a cast iron pan and cook on stove on low til starts to set, then finish in the oven. I do love the idea of adding some greens though! Love it for breakfast cold….yum.
I made this tonight, added panchetta and spinach, everything else the same. But instead of wrapping the pan in foil, I lined it with parchment paper so the sides hung over the pan. You had suggested this in your Butternut Squash and Spinach Pasta Winter Bake which I make often. It worked perfectly and clean up so much easier. And since you don’t have to cook the spinach ahead of time, it was a great way to add color without adding extra moisture. So cooking time was a solid 40 min, didn’t need to broil the top, cheese got nice and brown, my husband raved about it!
Re, using fresh pasta — I do think it could work but I also think it’s even more likely than dried pasta to get overcooked. I wonder if you just drop it for one minute max in boiling water would be best.
I once had a stove where the broiler didn’t work and now I don’t know how/ am afraid to use one. Can I skip the broiling step?
This looks incredible! So clever, so versatile. Deb strikes again!
I made this for supper tonight, in the spirit of not filing recipes away to make “later”. I had to use what I had on hand, so parmesan and provolone filled in for the cheeses. I served broccoli on the side, omitting in the pie.There are only two of us, so I cooked about 2/3 of the recipe and used an 8″ springform pan. It was set and nicely browned in 35 minutes. We both enjoyed it very much; my husband commented several times on how delicious it was.
Such a delicious and simple recipe to have in my arsenal, with ingredients I always have on hand. Thanks Deb!
I made this last night and it was soooo delicious! I knew my kids would be suspicious of anything green so omitted the broccoli rabe. My son said ‘it’s like mac and cheese but much more tasty!’ Served with a roasted chicken and steamed broccoli. Comfort food at its best!
I can’t wait to try this! I have made something like this in the past but with hunks of mozzarella cheese. Yummy but I love the combo of your cheeses. Thank You.
Can you use a slow cooker to make this?
lauren — Although someone probably has, it’s not the kind of dish I’d use for one. The pasta will end up overcooked and the prep is very a la minute, tossed together at the last minute and immediately served/eaten.
Made this for a group lunch at work and it got rave reviews! I prepped it the night before and popped it into the oven at work and it was WONDERFUL! I did put aluminum foil over it after about 10 minutes because it was already nicely browned. I used broccolini instead of broccoli rabe and it was a good substitute. Thanks again for a great recipe!
What do you think about adding a ladle of tomato sauce over the top of each slice? Would that overshadow anything? It sounds like some acidity would be nice.
I don’t know if it’s just me but I’m slightly confused as to when you add some/all of the broccoli rabe. Looks like you add half to the eggs, but then it doesn’t say to add the other half, so maybe I’m reading it wrong? Anyway I added it all at once which is the best conclusion I can come to. In the oven now- smells good!
I made this last night and it was soooo delicious! I knew my kids would be suspicious of anything green so omitted the broccoli rabe. My son said ‘it’s like mac and cheese but much more tasty!
This was easy and so incredibly good. I opted for greens on the side due to time constraints, but will try incorporating them next time. My younger set called it fancy mac and cheese, though the grown ups thought it was more like a baked alfredo. Regardless, it was a hit. And because I couldn’t find the 9″ springform pan (where IS that thing hiding?!), I baked this in a tube pan and the unexpected upside was more crispy edges, which was my favorite part.
Made this for dinner last night and it was delicious. Can’t wait to have the leftovers for lunch today!
This makes me giddily happy… the ultimate comfort food in a new form! Thanks!
This was my first experience with spaghetti pie -ever!- and it’s a winner! I made it over the weekend with whole wheat spaghetti, parmigiana instead of pecorino, fresh parsley, thinly sliced prosciutto and topped it with breadcrumbs. AMAZING! We thought the presentation was fun, it reheats wonderfully, it’s super quick and easy to throw together and we’re eating our third meal out of it tonight! Thanks for the warning about the foil – I put it on a sheet pan and felt immense sadness for your oven floor as I pulled it out of the oven! :/
8 ounces of pecorino will yield how many cups grated?
Thanks
Making it tonight!!
This looks delicious! Persian-styled pasta is served in a similar way (no idea on the history behind it but Persians love all things crispy – i.e., tah dig – the crispy rice at the bottom of a pot). Recipe for persian style macaroni pie here: http://turmericsaffron.blogspot.ca/2010/07/upside-down-persian-macaroni-with.html
Made this tonight with fontina and Parmesan. My kids loved it, with roasted broccoli on the side. Would also be great as a side dish along with chicken cutlets or another protein.
Simply stunning. Question: does the pie need any resting time before removing the ring and diving in? Thank you. Love your recipes!
Maria — I might have given it 5 minutes, but there’s no absolute need to. Things set a little more as they cool, mostly.
Maria – I let mine rest about 5 minutes and it came out beautifully!
Discovered that I was out of foil! Have a bundt silicon pan and used that instead of a spring form. While the topping wasn’t as pretty, it worked out great as an emergency stand by.
I made this last night and it was so delicious (and I am soooooo glad you added the instructions about wrapping in foil because that would have been a huge mess). I did not use the broccoli rabe because my husband and son wouldn’t have eaten it. The only change I would make next time is that I served this with a wilted spinach and pancetta salad and it really needed something with more acid/brightness to contrast with the flavors of the spaghetti pie.
Did you use the inexpensive fontina or Italian Fontina?
Thanks
Looks like you’re missing a “who” in “from the woman was very distressed”
c — Thanks, now fixed!
Just made this with regular broccoli from the garden and added sausage. It’s in the oven, making the whole house smell delicious.
And it is also the fourth recipe that’s made it onto the meal plan from SK in a 2-week time span!
I made “Dad’s Bucatini Pie” from a recent issue of F&W–similar but I think it was in a cast iron skillet as previously mentioned. Not quite as pretty but similar effect, which is that pasta + pie form = yum.
Oh, You can also make a Russian version of this, with farmer cheese and raisins, or ground meat :)
Apologies if someone already made a similar comment, but I just made this in my 10″ all clad straight sides pan and it worked wonderfully! I sprayed it with nonstick cooking spray before putting in the spaghetti.
Yum! Made this the other night as a test run because I wanted to serve it to guests tonight. 1) I’ve been making lots of homemade pasta this month, tried it in this without any pre-cooking, and it came out perfectly cooked. 2) I suspected the Italian Fontina might be too strong a flavor, so I did 6oz each of Fontina & Pecorino, plus 4oz sharp Cheddar, and the Fontina was still a bit overpowering. Tonight, I’ll go with a milder Danish Fontina. 3) It looked done, and I was worried about overdoing it, but when I cut into it, the very center was still oozey cheese. Tonight, I’ll bake 5 min longer before broiling.
Fantastic! A well vetted recipe. I made it this evening and used the broccoli rabe… Used the springform pan. Your instructions were dead on! I didn’t need to finish the pie under the broiler as recommended – the pie was set and perfectly browned at 45 minutes. The aromas were enticing and the meal was absolutely delicious! Many thanks!
Made this last night, sooooo good!wuick question – do you think this would freeze well?!
Ridiculously good recipe, thanks. I could smell it baking all the way down the paddock.
I made this over the weekend, I left out the greens and served them on the side, but I added leftover diced sautéed ham, it was great, required about 10 extra minutes of cooking. I did lighten it up a little with 2 percent milk and light shredded mozzarella but I did use regular pecorino, it was still incredibly rich and delicious.
I made this for Super Bowl, exactly as noted except substituted a bag of fresh chopped spinach (for the Broccoli Rabe (for color). It was great. as my Jewish mother commented, it is a Kugel!!
I made a HALF RECIPE in a ceramic 9″ deep dish pie plate, using: 3 oz minced broccolini tops (from a 1.5 lb bundle), 8 oz spaghetti, 1/2 c. milk, 2 T. powdered milk (suggested by #56 marcella from italy, so I didn’t have to dry broccolini), 2 large eggs, 1 t. pepper, 1 t. kosher salt, 4 oz parmesan, 2 oz fontina. It was plenty cheesy and peppery; very tasty. The pie plate was not full, and the custard did not reach the top of the noodles, so next time I would use 3/4 c. milk. Baked 30 min for a crunchy top, but could have called it done at 25 min.
So good! It was good enough to cause me to write my first comment. I replaced the fontina with swiss and the broccoli rabe with kale. I used a large cast iron skillet. I could smell it cooking all the way across my apartment. And now I’m so happy having eaten it. Thanks Deb, another winning recipe.
One question — any thoughts on the best way to reheat the leftovers? I live alone and this was a massive recipe.
Elizabeth — I rewarmed it covered with foil at 300/325. It reheated well and didn’t lose the crisp on top.
Delicious, and held well for a dinner that started later than planned. Used pancetta instead of greens, an extra egg, and a 9×13 glass pan.
WOW! This looks absolutely delicious. My mouth was actually watering while reading this :) All the ingredients go so well together and it’s a very clever new take on a pasta dish. I can’t wait to try this for dinner sometime! Is it best to eat the first day? Or is it still nice the day after?
Made this with gluten free pasta tonight and it worked amazingly well. I can’t wait to try it cold tomorrow!
I made it! I think I just saw it on your Instagram and I HAD to make it; it just looked to good not to. It turned out super delish, but I have to say that I made a few changes: I mixed in about 2 tbsp of chopped parsley and another for sprinkling over the top; I used parmesan instead of the pecorino and 1/2 mozzarella, 1/2 white cheddar (a very nice Vermont cheddar), for purely economic reasons. This is a true keeper! Had it with a simple spinach salad. I get to eat my other wedge for lunch tomorrow…ha ha! Also, I followed your instructions with the foil, and there was still about 1/3 of a cup of the custard that spilled out. Trying to think of a way to keep that from happening. Thank you much for the recipe. It turned out pretty, too! :-)
made this last night-really nice idea and taste. mine did, however, turn out quite ?dry. i followed the directions with the exception of switching parmesan for the pecorino, taste preference. i’m guessing that i over baked it? or 425 is just a tad too high of a temp? i don’t know but the next time i will lower the temperature and take it out ten min sooner. or do you think more milk is needed? for sure very dry! but we enjoyed it just the same. thank you!
This smelled AMAZING in the oven but as a few previous reviewers noted, it was rather dry for me too. I baked mine at a lower temp and took it out a few minutes early.
The concept of this is fantastic though (we LOVE cacio e pepe!) and I will try again with some modifications. My husband wondered if this could be converted into some kind of baked shells…maybe with more greens and some ricotta added to the mixture, and then a light béchamel on top??
Anyway – as always Deb, thanks for the recipe and “food for thought” :)
Made this tonight. Was so amazing. Did not modify a single thing except tossing it all in the pot used to boil rabe and pasta. Baked for 40 minutes at 425 (thermometer verified!) and it was perfect. Probably could have taken it out at 35 and it would hae been even better. No broiling needed.
Oh wait! I did use one modification – used 1 c low fat (1% milk) and 1/2 c half and half.
If fontina isn’t your gig, try Gruyere. I subbed in some smoked Gruyere and added 10 cloves of garlic, and this was like dessert for dinner.
Guys, definitely listen to Deb about wrapping the bottom of this bad boy in foil if you’re using a springform. Even if your springfirm has never, ever leaked. Even if you’ve produced this exact dish in that exact pan without incident the week before. Just…trust me .
A version of this is an Easter tradition in our Italian family. Except we go for the heart healthy ratio of 1 pound of pasta, to 1 dozen eggs, to 1/2 pound pecorino, and 1 tbsp black pepper.
do you have any recommendations on how to freeze this….and then reheat (thawed? cover and still frozen? unbaked? baked?!!) I’d like to make two or three ahead of time if it’s a recipe that lends itself to the freezer somewhere along the way!
Turned out fantastic, and looked almost exactly like the picture!!What about a sprinkle of lemon juice over the top to cut some of the richness? Meant to do that when it came out of the oven but forgot, perhaps next time..good recipe all around.
I made this last night (with chard, leeks, and fresh basil rather than broccolini) to impress a boy. It worked. Thanks, Deb. ;)
SO. GOOD.
Made it for breakfast this morning with leftover linguine (about 2/3 pound) and 2/3 of everything else — ish. Basically used it as an excuse to dispatch random “well aged” cheese nubs in the fridge. Wasn’t expecting much. But. SO GOOD.
Oh one more note: I baked it in an 8-inch cake pan — no need to worry about leaks — and this worked fine.
Seriously, make it. If mac and cheese and a latke met in Italy and had a passionate affair in Italy, the child produced from that union would taste like this.
I’ve made this before and it’s yummy. I’m thinking of making it for a new mum, do you think it’s ok to freeze?
Definitely. When I freeze something like this, I might ease off on the browning so that when it’s baked again it doesn’t get too dark.
Thanks! In the oven now.
I too am going to make this for a new mom and bake ahead–what would you suggest for a reheat time?
Do you think ricotta could be added as well? If so how would you recommend to do so?
If you were to add it, I prefer ricotta added at the very end, in dollops.
i’m so glad this reappeared via the email blast. i have made “chicken spaghetti” a few times, which is baked spaghetti with cheese that you can cut into slices but…i mean, it has two kinds of condensed soups, cheddar cheese, pimentos…and i have nothing at all against those ingredients in and of themselves, but part way through the meal each time, that gloppyness of the uncooked product just haunted me and kind of ruined it. this i think, is way more my speed. can’t wait to make it!
Instead of boiling broccoli rabe, I sauteed broccolini in some garlic and olive oil. I made it in a regular cake pan that had been lined w parchment paper, and it came out perfectly,
I made this tonight “for the kids” in a 6 inch cake pan. Just halved all the ingredients, and used mozzarella and cheddar as it’s all I had, and kale instead of broccoli rabe. It was delicious and perfect. It’ll be even better tomorrow tomorrow, cold, in their lunch boxes. If it lasts the night.
Made this last night for the first time and it was delicious! Thanks for a simple but delicious dinner recipe. I used mozzarella and gouda because it was all I had and quite good, but eager to try it as written. Thanks for such great recipes, always!
I made this, without the greens, as a pre-10k-race carb-loading meal for me and my partner – it fit just the bill and was delicious (all that pepper, yummmmm)! I think it would also be a great party snack, cooled down and cut into thinner wedges, I’ll give that a try next time we host something.
I put three layers of foil around the springform, and set a baking tray a level below in the oven – I was feeling all silly for being overcautious, but when I unwrapped the foil it turned out that quite a lot of the liquid had seeped through, so I was very glad for my precuations!
This looks as good as my old family favorite, loved for generations in my Italian family. Meant to use up what’s left in the fridge, or decades ago, what would spoil if not used. Lots of cheese and eggs but the only difference is ( and don’t judge) we don’t use the greens but add chopped hard salami or spicy hard sausage. I can’t mess with an 80yr old recipe. Btw, my mother in law only uses a cast iron skillet and makes it on the stove top. Delicious!
If you are concerned about the added water from boiled veggies, why not use roasted veggies (maybe broccoli or brussels sprouts) instead? I think I will try that. I also wonder about adding a bread crumb layer to the very top, perhaps the same bread crumbs in your pangrattato…
Any idea of whole wheat noodles would fit the bill here?
Thank you!
A whole wheat spaghetti should work.
Do you think the mixture can be made a day in advance and put in the pan – maybe putting the pan in the oven during pre-heat to bring the temp up before baking?
Thanks
Made this for dinner tonight in a cast iron skillet. Worked great, and served it out of the pan. I’d recommend this technique for anyone not bent on presentation. Broccoli was concurrently roasted on the side to up the greenery intake. Thanks for an easy yet luxurious dinner!
I made this with what I had on hand: Romano, parmesan and linguine. It was delicious! I suspect making with pecorino and fontina will be even better. I’ve warmed it up in the oven and eaten for lunch with a salad for the past several days. So good on these cold, rainy days. Thanks SK!
Deb, I’m going to make this again for dinner tonight (nothing says “new year new you” like spaghetti pie!) and I was wondering if you know anything about how it makes ahead – as in preparing it, putting it in the pan and sticking it in the fridge for 2-3 hours, then baking it. Any insight would be helpful for future endeavors. I can’t wait for dinner!
Ok (dinner was great!) but here’s one more question for which I’m seeking your advice – what about lining the inside of the springform pan with foil?? So much liquid oozed out onto my sheet pan – and it’s a major pain to clean the inner lip of my springform pan… have you ever tried this? (I lined my pans with triple foil, thanks for the tip.) Not sure if it would ruin the pie or not.
Hm, probably not a terrible idea at all. Shouldn’t ruin anything, just might not have as nice-looking sides.
You can but best if your springform isn’t leaky. (Not all are. I’ve realized since mine is terrible because I’ve dropped it a gazillion times. Of course it no longer seals well…) Once it’s in the oven, it starts setting up quickly so a little leak baked quickly isn’t as horrific and can be headed off by foil in a way that a little leak that might fully drain the pan in a few hours in the fridge cannot. Anyway, what I’d do it just bake it ahead of time. It reheats really well.
This sounds delicious. However, i am lactose intolerant. I can substitute for the milk and can use the pecorino, but can’t eat the fontina cheese. Is there a substitute I can use? Maybe cheddar?
My husband l8ves the concept, but asked, “where’s the meat?”😊. Thoughts/comments/suggestions?
This is great in a well-greased bundt pan, and no leaks!
Hi there – just made this and oh dear, it’s delicious beyond words. I did make some subs: didn’t have fontina, so used a chunk of beemster and a chunk of Gouda along with parm. Truly, truly amazing. I have a bit of a pet peeve, and please know I say this with a :) … to those who ask questions such as, “how much is 8 ounces of cheese?”, please, just google it rather than post the question. You’ll have a conversion in seconds.
Made this last night! So easy and delicious. I used 4 oz pecorino, 4 oz parmesan, and 8 oz fontina. My only complaint was that fontina is so soft that it is really a pain to grate. There was cheese flying all over my kitchen! Next time I will also use slightly over half the cheese for the filling and less than half for the crust, as I wound up with a very thick and unwieldly cheese raft on top. Otherwise, fantastic. If I’m going to quit my New Year’s resolutions, it might as well be with spaghetti pie.
Most deli counters will grate the cheese for you after they weigh it. This is a time saver and a clean up saver!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I just made it and it’s divine.
I don’t have a springform pan – what can I use instead? My options are: 8 or 9 inch round cake pans, 8 by 8 square cake pan, 9 by 13 lasagne type pan. Will any of these work, or shall I add a springform pan to my wish list?
Answering my own question – I made this using an 8 inch cake pan, and reduced some of the ingredients accordingly. It was incredibly good.
I made this tonight and it is absolutely delicious — and so pretty! I used broccolini because that’s what we had, and an extra egg because I can’t follow instructions, apparently. And my spring form pan definitely leaked — thank god for the aluminum foil. But I know this is going to become a staple because my step-son is a huge pasta carbonara fan.
I wish I could post a picture!
Hi Deb! We love your recipes around here, I want to try making this tomorrow. I have pecorino, manchego, and provolone in the fridge. Any ideas which would work best?
I sauteed pre-cooked Italinan chicken sausage, cut in tiny pieces with shallots and garlic and mixed it in with spaghetti in springform pan. The little chunks of meat were a bonus bit- delicious!
Made this with Spaghetti squash. Added calamata olives. Side of garlic beans. Heaven!
Made this today. I only had an 8-inch cake pan so I tried to just reduce the amount of pasta and milk; my wife isn’t a big cheese fan so I used about 1/2 of what the recipe calls for. Instead of broccoli rabe, I chopped up spinach, wilted it in a pan with a bit of oil and water, and squeezed out the excess liquid after cooling it a little, before adding it to the mix. This was awesome. I might have to buy a springform pan just for this recipe.
Hi Deb! I had this recipe on my ‘agenda’ :) since you first published it, but only got to try it yesterday, at dinner. It totally met the expectations and was a huge hit! :) I’ve added the pancetta, as per your suggestion on the video, and it gave it a nice smoky twist. Very much picnic apprpriate, now that the weather is getting so nice and warm. Thanks for the great ideas! :)
This was fantastic! Used skim milk, Parmesan and Emmental cheese instead. Might up the salt next time like suggested in the notes. I used a 9×13 pan, which worked well, more crunchy bits. I’ve been eyeing this recipe for awhile and am so glad I finally made it! I’m already looking forward to leftovers!
yum. the foil is necessary! the brocili rabe is not.
I’ve made this a few times (without the broccoli rabe) and it’s definitely a crowd pleaser among all ages. You know it’s a winner when everyone is eating it and some are eating a second serving of it. I have even used angel hair pasta when I discovered at the last minute that I didn’t have any spaghetti. It came out fine. I do wonder how you got the sides to be so browned and crispy because mine never came out that way. Only the top got browned and crispy from being under the broiler. Perhaps I’ll leave it in the oven the full 40 minutes next time and see if that browns the sides more.
Hi! This looks fabulous. I am wondering if this could be made with fresh pasta? Thank you!
On another note, where did you get the pretty white cake stand in the pictures? I have been pondering one for ages. I am so tempted by the McKenzie Childs cake stands, but they are pricey :(
This is an old one from the Martha Stewart collection for Macys. I only buy cheap stuff. ;)
Almost definitely but I would probably parboil it first? Sometimes if I don’t, it seems gummy (I’m thinking of lasagna mostly).
Hi
What would be the best non-dairy milk substitute?
Laura
This was absolutely delicious. I subbed in mixed stir fry greens (chard, tatsoi, collards) because that’s what I had, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. I am now envisioning making one of these every time I have people over for any kind of brunchy/room temperature meal or event. It’s perfect! Thanks Deb.
If I can’t get broccoli rabe what can I replace it with?
Lynn
Regular broccoli will work.
This looks amazing !!! I want to use another green ,what about spinach? Not a fan
of broccoli rabe,
See answer above , sorry ,
Could you make this a few days ahead and hold it?
Hi Deb! I’m thinking of making this for a brunch party. What do you think about making it in a 13×9 casserole dish lined with buttered parchment for easy removal? And, does it need to be piping hot or would room temp/ slightly warm work? Thank so much!!
Can I use a bundt pan for this instead of a springform?
I haven’t but I love the idea.
Can this be made tthe day before and reheated? I have made this many times and love it and would like to make for a brunch but just won’t have the time in the am.
Looks beautiful but highly caloric (a full pound of cheese, etc.) — how many servings have we here?
I’d say 8, but perhaps more or less depending on appetites and how much else is served.
Is that the Italian Fontina Val d”Aosta that you used here? Have you tried the younger version, Fontal? Thank you.
I used the younger one (or perhaps Danish fontina?) but all of the above works.
Would it be possible to make this without egg? (I’m allergic.) I’ve made a very passable version of carbonara using the starchy pasta water instead of eggs- might that work here? I doubt my usual egg stand-in of “flax eggs” would.
This is perfect timing. I have 6 of us for dinner and 2 are vegetarians. I wanted to do cacio e pepe, but daunting for 6 people. I have a tall 8″ springform, do you think that will work? Or should I borrow a 9″?
This is a glorious recipe! I used percorina and gouda (couldn’t find fontina), broccoli rabe, and baked it in my cast iron pan. The edges and bottom were ridiculously crisp and delicious and the inside was perfection. I only had to bake it for 40 minutes and it was done. Will definitely make this again and again!
I made this and thought it was easy and delicious. Everyone loved it. I would probably add more broccoli rabe next time
This. Was. Delicious.
I have been dreaming of making this since I saw it posted and finally made it last night. It was worth the wait (but really I shouldn’t have waited). This was so freaking good. I served it with a light arugula salad and together it was a perfect meal. At 3 minutes in the broiler it got pretty dark, but the crunchy top was delicious.
I’ve made many SK recipes and loved them all, but this recipe was sadly a miss. Too salty and very labor intensive- don’t underestimate how long it takes to grate a full pound (!) of cheese or to chop/boil/wring dry/mince a pound of broccoli rabe. This might have been more flavorful and less dense with less cheese and salt but I wouldn’t make again.
I made this with bacon (how terrible of me!) and made it more of a pasta carbonara thing. It was so good. My hubs can’t have gluten or high-lactose things like milk, so I used trader joe’s GF pasta, unsweetened almond milk, and some Parmesan and Monterey Jack that i happened to have on hand. I forgot to add any salt at all, but it wasn’t fine, because of the bacon.
I wanted to eat the whole damn thing.
PS I made a side salad of slaw with a mustard vinaigrette using some of the leftover bacon fat (even more terrible!! I know!!) and that, too, was frickin amazing.
Thanks Deb.
So we’re not a huge egg family (unfortunately….wish we were), but use them for baking or in meals at times…does this taste “eggy”
Looks DELICIOUS!
Based on your suggestion, I made it today for pie day. I used some asparagus I roasted and a bit of spinach, because that’s what I had. Also my cheese was a mix of gruyere and bit of cheddar for the fontina, because that’s what I had. But it was a hit.
Looks terrific, will try it this week. Also, do you have a link to that very nice cake stand?
Thanks for all your great recipes. They are the most requested ones from my family.
Sorry didn’t see your previous answer to this question.
Thank you. It’s a very old cake stand from Martha Stewart’s Macy’s line.
While I was making this, I kept saying to myself, there is no way that something can taste good enough to warrant this many prep dishes at 9:00 p.m. I was wrong. Deb, you’ve done it again! I made this with parmesan and something I got from the farmer’s market that tastes like a cheddar-swiss combo, in a stainless steel frying pan wrapped in aluminum foil.
I’ve had this pinned forever and I’m so disappointed that it took me so long to make it! It was delicious, easy and the perfect size for 4 hungry adults. I shouldn’t be surprised. There’s not one recipe of your’s that I’ve made and haven’t liked.
I used spinach instead of broccoli rabe. I also had to sub the cheeses – I used parmesan and emmental (Aldi shoppers can’t be too choosy).
Thanks for doing what you do!
maybe chopped cavalo nero? would it cook in the oven without needing a pre-cook?
Might be fine here without precooking. I’ll try it next time and report back.
I made this for a Mother’s Day lunch. The only change was I added fresh herbs from my garden. It was a huge hit. Very rich and indulgent, but worth the calories! Added the rapini. Looking forward to leftovers. Was so a beautiful presentation. Used convection setting so did not need broiler.
Would chickpea pasta work well? I use the Banza brand. Thank you!
Haven’t tried it and don’t see comments from anyone who has, but it’s worth finding out, I think. Let us know how it goes if you can.
alrighty, then, I’m gonna try it in a cast iron skillet!!
your recipes always turn out great!
Made this yesterday. Took it to an outdoor party, served at room temperature. It was delicious, received many complements. I can imagine that this is perfect picnic food, as it would not spoil in the heat.
I think mine could have used more broccoli de rape. Also didn’t need to broil it, as it was perfectly brown from the oven.
This is the recipe I make when I want to impress people– it just looks so special in its final form that people assume I slaved away. And it’s so easy to make! Delicious and awesome!
In the YouTube version, you used pancetta. Please give the approximate amount. Thank you.
It’s a different recipe. You can find it on the Food Network site.
I’ve just made this recipe. There seems to be an awful lot of cheese. Is it 8 ounces each of cheese, finely grated cheese or 8 ounces of finely grated cheese? It seems to make a difference.
I had an AMAZING fritatta at this little place up in Stowe VT…Stowe Bees…and was looking for something that might be along the lines of the deliciousness they served there. This is VERY close. However, and this may just be me…but 2 Tsp of salt AND parm or pecorino and the other bit of cheese made this soooooo salty. I thought I should have tasted it before I put that second tsp of salt in (yes I taste raw eggs)…but I love Deb and trusted her completely and unfortunately my frittata is crazy salty. I added more eggs and milk and it didn’t help. And it was 8:30pm at night and I just gave up and baked it anyway. Its not bad with some potatoes or salad on the side…but next time I will most definitely add less salt and taste first before adding more. I will say that it has the most amazing soft texture that is almost identical to the one at Stowe Bees, so I am definitely going to make it again because it really will be delicious the next time around. (and I think it is great even without pasta though I had about 2 cups of left over orzo that I tossed in but it would be fine without it and be more like a crustless quiche)
I made this recently and it was super tasty; my son even loved it. However, I’m sad to say that it literally ruined my springform pan. After baking this, the nonstick coating was peeling off all over the pan, especially in the groove where the ring meets the base. I have had to throw it out, as that nonstick stuff seems nasty to ingest, and I got a new one. However, now I’m nervous to make this recipe again as I can’t really buy a new pan every time I make it. Am I the only one who’s had this problem? Any suggested troubleshooting? I’m already thinking maybe I line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper, but I’m worried that will cause even more melted butter to leak out…
I use a nonstick and this has never happened. It’s just cheese — it shouldn’t ruin anything.
I have no idea how I missed this recipe before. We’ve loved Cacio e Pepe since we did our honeymoon in Rome years ago (love it so much our 2 latest cats are named Cacio & Pepe). I really like your method with creating the paste of cheese and pepper (https://smittenkitchen.com/2018/09/foolproof-cacio-e-pepe/). Will have to try this asap.
For everyone having issues with leaky springform. Years ago I bought the Kaiser Bakeware Crystal Glass bottom 10″ Springform. Have made numerous desserts in it and it has never leaked. It also came with an awesome cake carrier (the glass bottom goes into the carrier base. That being said, not sure if it’s being made anymore. Was just trying to search for it and can’t find it anywhere for sale (perhaps my google-fu is failing at the moment). Anyway, if you can find it somewhere I highly recommend it.
Cats! That’s very cute. I actually think I used to have that springform, but it’s long lost. Not sure if it’s still available.
Hi
I have a question about portion sizes: the recipe calls for 1lb spaghetti and 1lb cheese. I found it fed eight people handsomely. But I see comments about making 2/3 of the recipe for 2 people. How many people did you expect it to feed? I can’t see that in the notes.
It was great, and makes a fantastic packed lunch cold. The broccoli is a terrific addition.
Thanks
I make this regularly, but to keep it much less fussy, I do the following:
—I bake it in a lightly oiled 9×13 glass baking dish (I don’t really care what it looks like just for myself and family, and it’s still nice looking);
—(sometimes) I use up all the leftover bits of cheese in the fridge;
—I don’t use any greens and instead have a load of them on the side (the little bit included in the recipe doesn’t even provide a full serving per portion anyway, and squeezing out all the water in veggies just seems like a waste of time and nutrients anyway);
—I cut it in portions, wrap each carefully, and freeze the leftovers, which reheat beautifully in my toaster oven—then I make some nice veggies to go with: roasted, steamed, grilled, or a salad—this goes with everything!
I made this yesterday. I put the broccoli rabe in the pie, but made sure to squeeze and squeeze (and squeeze) until no water dripped out; and then, after I chopped it up, I squeezed it again for good measure. The cooking time was 45 minutes total. It came out really well. I think I would use slightly more Fontina and slightly less Pecorino next time. This is simply personal preference – for me, a little Pecorino goes a long way. Overall: another big hit at home. Thank you.
Made this last night, the same night I saw the recipe. I added chopped spinach and garlic, fresh nutmeg, cayanne, and some thyme to the pepper I had to substitute buttermilk with a bit of chicken broth for the milk as that is all I had. Three cheeses: Parmesan, Gruyere, and Monterey Jack as these were all I had as well. My husband loved it..I thought it was a bit bland….I will have to think about a flavor kick for the next time. great comfort food.
Made this today and had some substitutes with items in my fridge: Parmesan vs. pecorino; mozzarella vs. fontina and power green mix, cut, not steamed or boiled plus a little fresh basil added directly into egg/milk mix vs. broccoli rabe. Still cooked it 40 minutes and broiled cheese mixture last few. It was delicious.
So yummy! Made it with sautéed garlic and chopped kale in olive oil.
Used the exact amounts of cheese as in the recipe.
Thank you Deb for an easy and delicious recipe.
This was Delicious. Rich and creamy and perfect for a winter weeknight dinner.
Made this last night and it was universally loved by all 6 in my family! I browned 2 broken up hot italian beyond meat sausages and 4 cloves of garlic, added to the spaghetti mixture with the blanched broccoli rabe and piled all of it into a 10″ springform. It needed about 50 minutes with foil on for the last 5. The sides and top all crisped beautifully. A tasty and inventive take on a pasta tray bake!
I made this without broccoli rabe and when I opened the springform and cut into it the liquid poured out and it did not stay stiff when cut. I put half the salt and it was way too salty. I put way less pepper and still too peppery. Maybe cook longer at a lower temperature. Given it is unhealthy and similar to Mac and cheese, I will stick to M&C. Love many other SK resipies.
I had leftover spaghetti, but only half as much as the recipe calls for. I also had four small roasted potatoes sitting in the fridge. So I cut them into julienne sized pieces and mixed the potatoes with the spaghetti, and eggs and the assorted cheeses I had in the fridge. It was delicious!
Could this be made as individual servings with multiple 4″ mini-springform pans? How much would the baking time change if so?
I love this idea but I’m not sure of the baking time — much less, of course, especially if they’re shallow.
I learned a similar Dish in Italy many years ago, mine is an omelette and also has dried sausage.
Can’t wait to try this version!
I love the idea of this recipe and will definitely make it this week. One question though. Can I reduce the amount of eggs? My husband has an allergy to eggs, mostly a large amount of them and NOT anaphylactic. He can tolerate 1 egg as long as it is cooked into something but 3 might make him break out. Any suggestions? Everything else sounds exactly like a delicious easy weekday meal. Thanks for all your amazing recipes. You are my first choice when I am looking for something. :)
I made this with gluten free spaghetti. It was very al dente when I removed it from the water. GF pasta can turn mushy quickly. The recipe was delicious and will be a go to recipe for me. Also, I minced a clove of garlic, chopped some broccoli and red pepper. Put these veggies in a bowl added about 4 T of olive oil and heated on high for 30 seconds. Then added chopped Roma tomatoes. I served this veggie on the side. I’m adding rucola to the veggie mix next time. Thanks!
I LOVE this recipe! But, I have yet to find a creative use for the Broccoli rabe stems which I have “saved for another use”. Google has not come to my rescue. Is there any use for them other than throwing them into a soup base?
You can totally saute them with garlic and seasoning and finish them with lemon, as you would the floret end.
I made this as directed (with frozen spinach instead of broccoli rabe) and it turned out pretty good. It was nicely browned on the top, but not on the sides, so it wasn’t AS good as I was hoping, but was still good. However, I rue the day I made it. My springform pan has cooked egg/milk gunk stuck in the tightly curled metal on the bottom of the cylindrical part, AND in the tightly curled metal on the underside of the bottom part. It’s really gross and I can’t get it out. I broke the tip of a paring knife trying to get it out (and even that was just spinning the gunk around in there, not removing it). So just bought a new springform pan (because it grosses me out to even put it away with that wet gunk stuck in there) and a new paring knife. Maybe other springform pans aren’t made this way, or maybe other people don’t care about the gross gunk… but it’s 100% not worth it to me. I’m almost mad enough to throw out the leftovers (but of course that’s dumb).
But I feel compelled to state that 95% of the recipes I love are Deb’s! It’s just that this isn’t one of them.
Julie, I know this is a VERY late reply, but I just discovered this recipe. I use a toothbrush to clean those hard to get places on my springform pan.
Absolutely one of the most fabulous recipes I have ever made. Extremely delicious and has tremendous visual appeal. I even served it in little squares or a cupcake form as an appetizer. Always is a huge hit. I would like to try it with a healthy pasta such as Black bean spaghetti or edamame fettuccine. Would one of those work?
My southern Italian mom always made this with leftover spaghetti, usually on a Friday night. No need to use the oven, just mix all the ingredients and fry in a large saure pan with lots of butter until golden brown, flip and get the other side crispy. Delicious!
Love this recipe as is with a little bit of pancetta fried first and tossed into the spaghetti. I cut into small squares and serve as appetizer. Group favorite!!
If you haven’t made this, you might be wondering – can it be made with 1″ salad shells? And the answer is yes. It works great. Delicious dish. I need to use more pecorino generally, it’s a welcome change from parm.
I crave this dish. It reminds me a bit of my grandmother’s baked Mac n cheese that is famous (among family anyway). It’s just so good, I love the texture, and of course my kids loved it. I did it with chopped greens last time, but may just serve a salad next time (which will be this weekend because it’s all I’ve thought about cooking for the the whole week).
think this would work with gluten free pasta? like a barilla noodle (corn and rice)? don’t want to make it and have an epic fail!
Could you use low-fat milk? And if you make in a cast Iron ten inch skillet no need to adapt the ingredients due to size – it will all fit ?
Yes and I think yes.
Thank you! I am finally getting around to making this – I don’t have brocolli or broccolini or rabe on hand, but I do have kale – could I use that (thinking I would blanche it, then ring all the excess water, and roughly chop)? I am going to go to the fancy cheese store to get the right fontina and pecorino! Can’t wait
I forgive you for being pedantic, but. . . . . I have almost the exact recipe with the title “Nene’s Favorite (Depression Recipe)” with the primary difference is that the cheese is sharp cheddar! (Nene was my great aunt.) Also no greens. Nene was Jewish, English, grew up in Jamaica and came to the US in 1905 when she was in her teens or early twenties. No way for pecorino to come in there, but cheddar? yes. I’ve always liked the recipe and look forward to making this version. Even with the different cheese it will evoke memories of my beloved Nene. Thank you for this.
Deb, sounds great. Can it be made in a springform pan?
This is THE best recipe. I’ve made it a few times and I love it every time. I use regular broccoli and I throw it in with the pasta two minutes before the pasta is al dente.
Well first and foremost Smitten Kitchen never disappoints. I have made this a number of time, I don’t ad lib, but the only negative comment I’ve gotten is that it is too dry. Any ideas? Oh Dear Deb Mazel Tov on your boy’s Bar Mitzvah
Lots of changes based on accident/necessity/things are going on in the kitchen:
Low on milk: used 1 cup 2% milk and pasta water
I cooked the pasta pretty much the full time, so I reduced the liquid to 1 1/4 cups
By the time I shredded 6 oz pecorino, I was done, so I just used that amount
Used a mozzarella with just a but of funky white cheddar (I know it’s not cough, but I also knew it would be delicious)
Found out both pepper grinders were completely out of peppercorns, and so was the spice drawer — almost gave up, but hunted in the basement instead (see overcooked spaghetti)
All this, and still, success! Burnished top, happy family, delicious pi day. 2 kids wanted to take the last slice for lunch. It was decided whoever gave mom the best shoulder rub would get it. Double success.
it is possible to make this without eggs?
I think you’d need something to bind it together. Just egg, the vegan egg substitute might work. Or pureed silken tofu with some cornstarch.
Can you use other vegetables or cheeses?
For something that used an entire pound of cheese, this was rather disappointing. Yes, it does look impressive out of the oven. And yes, the first night the crispy parts on the top are quite nice. But overall this method leaves it rather dry inside. There are so many dishes that use this much cheese that are creamy and luscious. I used cast iron, and I left the greens out. I reduced the pepper and I did reduce the salt based on other reviews to 1 tsp. I think I could have gone up a bit on the salt.
There is nothing wrong with this recipe for a spaghetti pie. But I just don’t think this dish is worth making.
Noodle kugel!
This was a swing and a miss for my family. My husband couldn’t understand why you wouldn’t just make cacio e pepe and be done with it. And the boy missed the bacon that would be found in the similar spaghetti carbonara dish. I liked it, but since the other two weren’t on board, I won’t be making it again any time soon. To many grumbles from the rest of the household.
Just made this as written with the broccolli rabe. While good when freshly made the comments I got from the family were they’d prefer to have regular cacao e Pepe instead as this felt more like a macaroni and cheese.
The only real complaint was that leftovers turned into a big hard block of cheese carbs and there was little I could do to rescue it from this fate.