SHARP CHEDDAR MAC AND CHEESE

What’s Thanksgiving without this ultra-gooey dish? Check out my classic mac and cheese recipe!

After last year’s success, (see here), we hosted our 2nd annual Friendsgiving and offered all of our guests to bring their most-loved comfort dish. Being that mac and cheese is one of my absolute favorites, I decided to make a classic rendition of this coveted side that will make your mouth completely parched from non-stop watering. Its simplistic direction will spare you from having to spend long hours hauling in the kitchen. Plus, it features a little kick of Middle Eastern flavor that’s actually quite brilliant. 

Sharp Cheddar Mac and Cheese

2016-11-20 14:30:54

A classic mac and cheese recipe with ultra gooey sharp cheddar with a touch of zaatar.

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Ingredients

1. Cooking spray
2. 1 1/2 cups uncooked fusili macaroni
3. 1 1/2 cups uncooked medium shells macaroni
4. 3 cups of milk
5. 5 tablespoons salted butter
6. 1 cup panko bread crumbs
7. 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
8. 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
9. 16 ounces *Cracker Barrel Vermont sharp cheddar
10. 1 tablespoon zaatar, optional
11. Few dashes of Tabasco
12. Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 9-by-13-inch pan or baking dish.
2. Boil macaroni in large pot of boiling salted water; cook for 5 minutes until outside is cooked but center is still firm.
3. Drain in cold water.
4. Heat milk in saucepan over medium-high heat and stir with whisk.
5. Melt 5 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat in large pot previously used for macaroni. Pour 2 tablespoons of butter into a small bowl, add breadcrumbs and mix.
6. Reduce heat to low, add flour to remaining 3 tablespoons of butter in saucepan and whisk over heat for 2 minutes. Add heated milk, whisking until smooth; Continue stirring until sauce thickens. Cook, stirring often, for about 3 minutes.
7. Remove from heat and add dashes of salt, pepper, nutmeg, Tabasco and half of cheese. Then stir in drained pasta.
8. Spread pasta mixture over bottom of baking dish. Scatter remaining cheese on top. Mix remaining cheese into breadcrumbs and scatter evenly over top.
9. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of zaatar allover dish.
10. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden on top and bubbling throughout. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

1. *Any cheese of your choosing can be substituted here

By Aya Alshafei

Adapted from Cabot

Adapted from Cabot

Always Two Fabulous https://alwaystwofabulous.com/