SMOKY CHIPOTLE AND CHEDDAR MAC

Smoky Chipotle and Cheddar Mac image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Time 40m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 pound macaroni elbows or cavatapi corkscrew shaped pasta twists
Salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan, plus some for drizzling
3/4 pound chorizo, 1 package, casing removed and diced
1 (15-ounce) can diced fire roasted tomatoes, drained
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 chipotle in adobo and their juices, chopped or 1 tablespoon ground chipotle chili
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
1 cup chicken stock
3 cups shredded smoked Cheddar

Steps:

Place a pot of water on to boil for macaroni. When it boils, salt water and cook pasta until a little under done, just shy of al dente.
While pasta cooks, place a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and chorizo. Brown the chorizo then add the canned tomatoes to the pan and heat them through. Remove from heat and reserve.
While chorizo begins to cook, heat a medium sauce pot over medium-low heat. Add 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, then add onions and chipotles and cook 3 to 5 minutes to sweat it out and turn the juices sweet. Raise heat up a bit, add the flour and whisk together until mixture bubbles up. Cook 1 minute more. Whisk in milk and stock and raise heat up a little more to bring the sauce to a quick boil. Once it bubbles, drop heat back to a rolling simmer sauce to thicken, 3 to 5 minutes.
Drain macaroni or pasta. Add cooked pasta back to the large pot.
Add cheese to milk sauce and stir to melt, a minute or so. Stir in chorizo and tomatoes and season sauce with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over cooked pasta in large pot and toss to combine. Transfer to a large serving platter, garnish with chives and serve.