Macaroni and Cheese
This Macaroni and cheese is rich and creamy with a crispy cheddar cheese crumble topping. Perfect to accompany your favorite main course.
Yield: One 9” by 9” baking dish.
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Bake Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Ingredients
For the Cheddar Cheese Crumble:
4 tablespoons (56 grams) unsalted butter, cold, diced into small cubes
4 ounces (113 grams) sharp cheddar cheese, grated
5 tablespoons (45 grams) Cup4Cup Multipurpose Flour
1-1/2 teaspoons (5 grams) Kosher salt
For the Macaroni and Cheese:
6 tablespoons (80 grams) unsalted butter
1 cup (113 grams) yellow onion, very finely minced
1 small clove of garlic, very finely minced
1 tablespoon (10 grams) Kosher Salt
¼ cup (50 grams) Cup4Cup Multipurpose Flour
3 cups (680 grams) milk, hot
12 ounces (340 grams) sharp cheddar cheese
1 pinch cayenne pepper
6 ounces (170 grams) gluten-free elbow macaroni (weight is dry pasta)
Instructions
For the Cheddar Cheese Crumble:
- Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor.
- Pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse crumble. Do not puree.
- Store the crumble in the refrigerator until needed.
For the Macaroni and Cheese:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Bring a pot of water up to a simmer for the pasta. Season the water with salt.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan.
- Add the onions, garlic and salt and sweat them gently until the onions are softened.
- Stir in the Cup4Cup Multipurpose Flour until there are no lumps.
- Gradually whisk in the hot milk. Continue whisking until no lumps remain.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook for about 3 minutes or the sauce is thickened and no longer tastes like raw flour.
- While the sauce is cooking, bring the water to a rolling boil and begin cooking the macaroni.
- Stir in the cheese and cayenne pepper until completely melted and the sauce is shiny then turn off the heat.
- Drain the pasta then stir it into the cheese sauce.
- Pour the mixture into a 9 inch by 9 inch baking dish. Use a rubber spatula to level the surface.
- Sprinkle the cheddar cheese crumble evenly over the surface of the macaroni and cheese.
- Bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the sides of the dish are bubbling.