Whether you’re 10 or 80, mac and cheese is arguably a dish that appeals to all. I find it a tad annoying so many people associate macaroni and cheese with childhood; yes, this is a dish that typically appeals to children, but that does not mean it can’t also be enjoyed well into our adult years. Mac and cheese is one of my favourite comfort meal foods, and I highly doubt I’m alone in this preference.
I came across a recipe for Queso Mac & Cheese from delish.com and I wanted to share it with all of you. It offers a creative, but not too crazy, twist on a familiar favourite, and it’s a great option to make for dinner in the summertime. Check it out.
“Ingredients
- 1/2 c. unsalted butter, plus more for pan
- Kosher salt
- 1 lb. cavatappi, elbow, or other short, tube-shaped pasta
- 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
- 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 canned chipotle chile, finely chopped (optional), plus 2 to 4 oz. adobo sauce (depending on heat preference)
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 12 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
- 12 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, coarsely grated
- Sliced avocado, pickled jalapeños, and chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
“Directions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°. Grease a 13 x 9 baking pan or 2 (8 x 5) casserole dishes with butter.
- Step 2: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta, stirring occasionally, until slightly firmer than al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Reserve 4 cups pasta water, then drain. If there isn’t enough pasta water remaining, add water or milk to reach 4 cups liquid.
- Step 3: In same pot over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until butter begins to foam and turns golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in reserved pasta water to avoid lumps. Add cream cheese and whisk until smooth.
- Step 4: Stir in chile (if using) and adobo sauce and cumin; season salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly. Gradually add cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, about 1/2 cup at a time, whisking until each addition is melted and smooth before adding the next. Add pasta; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Transfer mixture to prepared pan.
- Step 5: Place pan on a foil-lined baking sheet and cover pan with foil. Bake for 30 minutes, remove foil, and continue to bake for until cheese is bubbling, about 10 minutes more. Top with avocados, jalapeños, and cilantro,” the recipe states.
Enjoy, my friends.
Photo by Leanna Myers on Unsplash
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