Best Grown Up Mac N Cheese Recipes

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GROWN UP MACARONI AND CHEESE



Grown up Macaroni and Cheese image

This is a fantastic mac and cheese recipe, with grown up flavors...you've got to give it a try. I made it last year for a dinner party, and after a year of people asking for the recipe (It really is that good!) I decided to just put it on Zaar. The recipe comes from the Fall 2007 edition of The Best of Fine Cooking magazine. This serves 8 people as a main course.

Provided by Chef Johnny Ringo

Categories     Cheese

Time 1h30m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 17

3 cups whole milk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 pinch nutmeg, freshly grated
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
5 ounces gruyere cheese, coarsely grated (about 1 3/4 cup, lightly packed)
1/2 lb blue cheese, crumbled (Maytag blue suggested, about 2 cups)
1 lb penne rigate, dried
1 tablespoon lemon zest, finely grated
11 ounces monterey jack cheese, cut into 1/2 inch dice (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped fresh
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
2 1/2 ounces parmigiano-reggiano cheese, freshly grated (scant 1 cup)
3/4 cup fresh breadcrumb

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Put a large pot of well salted water on to boil.
  • Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium low heat to just below a simmer. Remove from heat and cover to keep hot.
  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat.
  • add the onion and bay leaf. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
  • Gradually whisk in the hot milk, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes, whisking frequently, until thickened and smooth.
  • Season with 1 tsp salt, the nutmeg, tabasco and pepper to taste.
  • Remove and discard the bay leaf. Stir in the gruyere and blue cheese.
  • Cook the pasta in the boiling water to al dente, following the package directions. Drain well and return to the pot.
  • Toss the lemon zest and half of the Monterey Jack cheese into the pasta while it's still hot; add the cheese sauce and quickly toss to combine.
  • Stir in the parsley and thyme and transfer half of the pasta to a large 3 qt shallow cassserole or lasagna pan.
  • Sprinkle with the remaining Monterey Jack cheese and half of the Parmigiano; top with the remaining pasta.
  • Sprinkle with the remaining Parmigiano and the breadcrumbs.
  • Bake until bubbling and golden, 50 to 60 minutes.
  • Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

MAC-N-CHEESE FOR GROWN-UPS



Mac-N-Cheese for Grown-Ups image

This was sent to me in a William Sonoma magazine and it's a nice variation on an old classic that tends to be a more grown up taste (IMHO) It calls for cavatappi pasta (a fancier elbow looking pasta) but I couldn't find it so just used elbow. Has more steps than most mac-n-cheese I've made but I feel it's worth it and hope you do too.

Provided by Bonnie G 2

Categories     Macaroni And Cheese

Time 1h

Yield 1 Pan, 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3/4 stick -plus more for greasing
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 bay leaf
4 cups milk
1 1/4 cups creme fraiche
1 1/2 teaspoons fleur de sel, pluse more to taste
3 3/4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 3/4 cups cheddar cheese, shreeded
white pepper, to taste
1 lb cavatappi pasta, cooked al dente and cooled in ice water and drained
3/4 cup breadcrumbs

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375.
  • Butter 3-4 quart square baking dish.
  • In 4 quart saucepan over medium heat, melt 6 tablespoons of butter.
  • Stir in flour, cook, stirring, 1 minuted. Add bay leaf.
  • Slowly whisk in milk until smooth.
  • Simmer, whisking occasionally, 14-16 minutes.
  • Discard bay leaf.
  • Whisk in creme fraiche and 1 1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel; bring to simmer.
  • Off heat, stir in 1 1/2 cups each mozzarella and cheedar.
  • Season with Fleur de sel and white pepper.
  • In large bowl, combine pasta and cheese sauce.
  • Stir in 2 cups mozzarella.
  • Transfer to prepared casserole dish.
  • Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and cheddar, then with bread crumbs.
  • Bake 30 minutes.
  • Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

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