Sunday, March 8, 2009

Best Macaroni and cheese in the universe!

This is a recipe i got from epicurious.com. Every time i make it people freak out it's so good! it's a little involved and the cheese can be kinda spendy but it's so worth it. Also the recipe makes a huge amount so I recommend halving it unless you're going to a potluck.

For topping
  • 1/2 stick unsalted butter
  • 2 cups panko (coarse Japanese bread crumbs) or 3 cups coarse fresh bread crumbs(from 6 slices firm white sandwich bread)-i tried it both ways and i like the fresh bread crumbs better
  • 1/4 pound coarsely grated extra-sharp Cheddar (1 1/2 cups)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

For macaroni and sauce
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 5 cups whole milk
  • 1 pound coarsely grated extra-sharp Cheddar (6 cups)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni

Preparation

Make topping:
Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.

Melt butter, then stir together with panko and topping cheeses in a bowl until combined well.

Make sauce:
Melt butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat and stir in flour. Cook roux, stirring, 3 minutes, then whisk in milk. Bring sauce to a boil, whisking constantly, then simmer, whisking occasionally, 3 minutes. Stir in cheeses, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until smooth. Remove from heat and cover surface of sauce with wax paper.

Make Macaroni:
Cook macaroni in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (2 tablespoons salt for 4 quarts water) until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water and drain macaroni in a colander. Stir together macaroni, reserved cooking water, and sauce in a large bowl. Transfer to 2 buttered 2-quart shallow baking dishes.

Sprinkle topping evenly over macaroni and bake until golden and bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes.

Yum!

6 comments:

  1. 2 1/4 lbs of cheese and lots of breadcrumbs. This must be perfect.

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  2. ha, you're "unhealthy" tag made me laugh. I think the thing about delicious food like this is just not to eat it too often and to share it!

    Here's a recipe I posted on my blog before we started this one:
    http://simplesocialgraces.blogspot.com/2009/01/la-pequea-mac-and-chis.html

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  3. what is this, punk psychic connection? Just last night I was just looking at the martha stewart "crack n' cheese" recipe and wondering what excuse I could come up with to make it. ha, now I don't feel so guilty!

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  4. i agree with molly! don't forget to throw in some wheat germ and riboflavin, joey ramones style:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8gsKZ_Dy6g

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  5. i have a recipe book by anna that claims that the mac and cheese recipe she got from sohrab is the best in the world. who is right? should there be a mac-off?

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  6. look at this! http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/03/the-great-greenpoint-mac-off-coming-this-week-brooklyn-nyc.html

    ReplyDelete