Matzah brei gets a trendy makeover with cacio e pepe

JTA – Cacio e pepe translates to cheese and pepper, and the classic Roman pasta dish includes little more than these eponymous ingredients. In the classic recipe, spaghetti and salted pasta water combine with a salty sheep's milk cheese called Pecorino Romano to create a silky, luxurious sauce that far surpasses the sum of its parts. 

For the past few years, cacio e pepe has been a darling of chefs and food fanatics. In a 2021 Los Angeles Times article, Jenn Harris shows that the origins of the relatively modern pasta dish are somewhat cloudy: Black pepper would have been too expensive for most Romans until the middle of the 20th century. 

It’s likely the dish can trace its popularity to the osterias of the 1950s and ’60s, where it was probably sold to encourage patrons to drink more wine. Now, you can find cacio e pepe in everything from bagels to lasagna. Never one to miss a trend, Trader Joe’s has released several cacio e pepe products, including a jarred sauce and cacio e pepe puffs. 

We eat a lot of matzah brei at my house, so it was only a matter of time before I thought to mash up my morning matzah brei with this trending flavor combination. Cacio e pepe’s sharp cheese and smack of black pepper are a nice balance to eggy-creamy matzah brei, and it can be on the table in about 10 minutes, making it a simple, satisfying weekday breakfast.

This recipe was first published on The Nosher.

Cacio e Pepe Matzah Brei

INGREDIENTS

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon whole milk

2 sheets matzah

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

½ cup Pecorino Romano cheese, finely grated

½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

⅛ teaspoon kosher salt   

DIRECTIONS

Crack 2 large eggs into a small bowl with 1 tablespoon milk, and whisk until beaten. Crumble 2 sheets of matzah into the egg mixture, and allow to sit for 3-5 minutes, until soft.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon butter or margarine in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Pour the matzah-egg mixture into the pan, and while the eggs are still loose, sprinkle in ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano and ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper. Cook until the eggs are just set, 1-2 minutes, and season with ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt. Serve immediately.

Serves 2.