Decadent Mac n’ Cheese

mac n' cheese As part of the modern update for our Midwestern potluck, my test kitchen crew and I decided we absolutely had to take on Mac n’ Cheese. Of course there are a million recipes for it out there, but hey, why not one more. In my opinion, this is where it’s at anyway. Mascarpone and good gruyère… mmmm… The funny part is, that when we tested the update for Decadent Mac n’ Cheese we originally added lobster meat for the dramatic and fancy update ingredient. Though it was good, as we sat around eating and generally enjoying the dish, we all agreed that the lobster was an example of just more, not better. Lobster is so special and delicious (and expensive, particularly when not on the East Coast) that you should probably just save it to be eaten plainish, à la my Lobster Rolls or Lobster Salad with Goat Cheese Vinaigrette. That’s not to say it wasn’t good, we just felt that we didn’t get that much bang for the extra bucks. So, if you’re trying to be extra decadent, feel free to add in a few tails of chopped meat, but in the expert opinion of Susan and Katie, it really doesn’t improve the overall dish. And this is always a good lesson to remember when cooking or dining. More, or more expensive, isn’t always better, sometimes it’s just more. Perhaps that’s also a testament to how truly decadent this Decadent Mac n’ Cheese recipe truly is; I mean, if lobster isn’t an upgrade, then what is? Turns out, the answer is mascarpone and gruyère in this Decadent Mac n’ Cheese.

Decadent Mac n' Cheese
Serves 12
Decadent Mac n’ Cheese involves adding mascarpone and good gruyère to the cheese base, which makes a creamy and smooth mac n' cheese that can't be beat.
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Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
40 min
Total Time
1 hr 5 min
Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
40 min
Total Time
1 hr 5 min
392 calories
36 g
53 g
20 g
16 g
11 g
152 g
675 g
5 g
0 g
7 g
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
152g
Servings
12
Amount Per Serving
Calories 392
Calories from Fat 177
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 20g
31%
Saturated Fat 11g
57%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 53mg
18%
Sodium 675mg
28%
Total Carbohydrates 36g
12%
Dietary Fiber 2g
7%
Sugars 5g
Protein 16g
Vitamin A
14%
Vitamin C
2%
Calcium
32%
Iron
5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
  1. 1 tablespoon olive oil
  2. 1 cup finely diced onion
  3. ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  4. 4 medium cloves garlic; minced
  5. 3 tablespoons butter
  6. 3 tablespoons flour
  7. 2 cups milk (skim, 1% are fine, the recipe is rich)
  8. 12 ounces comté or gruyère*
  9. 8 ounces mascarpone
  10. 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  11. 1 pound pasta (I like something with lots of nooks- cavatappi, wagon wheels, fusilli)
  12. ¼ cup grated parmesan
  13. ¼ cup bread crumbs**
Instructions
  1. Put a large stock pot of water on to boil.
  2. Meanwhile, using a large sauce pan on medium low heat, add the olive oil, onion, and red pepper flakes.
  3. When the onion is very soft and translucent, add the minced garlic and saute for 1- 2 minutes.
  4. Add the butter and flour.sauteed onions add flour and butter
  5. When well combined and starting to be dry, gradually whisk in the milk in ½ cup increments.
  6. Add the grated or cubed cheese.comte
  7. When it’s well-melted and smooth, add the salt and whisk in the mascarpone.cheese sauce plus mascarpone
  8. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
  9. Salt the boiling water heavily.
  10. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook a minute or two less than the box instructions recommend.
  11. Pour into the cheese sauce and mix well.
  12. Butter a 9 x13 pan.
  13. Pour the pasta into the pan.
  14. Top with the parmesan and bread crumbs.top with bread crumbs and parm
  15. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden on top.
  16. Enjoy a very delicious and very rich version of mac n’ cheese.
Notes
  1. *Comté is a young gruyère and is a little more mild and much cheaper, which makes it great for Mac n’ cheese. These french cheeses are the supreme melters typically used as the base in fondue.
  2. **I like panko best as it creates the best crunch, but any will do.
beta
calories
392
fat
20g
protein
16g
carbs
36g
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Dirty Laundry Kitchen https://www.dirtylaundrykitchen.com/

Comments

Decadent Mac n’ Cheese — 2 Comments

  1. I made this recipe last night and it was awesome! My friend and I loved it.

    From the biggest mac n cheese fan,
    Michael