Margherita Mac Cheese Recipes

MAC AND CHEESE MARGHERITA RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Line baking sheet with heavy-duty foil; place rack over foil. Arrange tomatoes on rack, cut side up. Drizzle with 2 Tbs. olive oil; sprinkle with garlic, thyme, sugar, salt and pepper. Roast tomatoes 20-25 minutes or until shriveled. When cool enough to handle, remove and discard skins; coarsely chop tomatoes. Set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Grease 13"x9" baking pan. Heat butter in pot over medium-low heat. Add shallots; cook, stirring often, until softened, 3 minutes. Stir in flour and oregano; cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute or until mixture turns slightly beige and is bubbly. Increase heat to medium; slowly whisk in milk. Bring to boil, whisking. Reduce heat to low; simmer 2 minutes. Add mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan to sauce by 1/2-cup measures, stirring until cheese melts before next addition. In bowl, toss pasta and sauce. Gently fold in tomatoes and basil; season with salt and pepper. Transfer pasta to baking pan. Mix remaining olive oil and Parmesan with breadcrumbs; sprinkle on top of dish. Bake 20-30 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and crumbs are deep brown. Let stand 5 minutes; serve.

CLASSIC MARGHERITA PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees, with rack in lower third lined with a pizza stone or baking sheet. Turn dough out onto a pizza peel or thin wooden cutting board dusted with semolina (do not punch down). Starting in center and using both hands, press down and outward with your fingertips, rotating dough occasionally. Gradually work toward edges, leaving a 1-inch border of undisturbed dough, until it's stretched to an approximately 13-inch round.
• Lightly drizzle dough with oil; season with salt and pepper. Gently spread sauce evenly to just inside border, top evenly with mozzarella, and sprinkle with Parmigiano. With one quick forward-and-back jerking motion, slide pizza from peel onto stone. (This is not the moment to hesitate! Be brave and bold, and the pizza will slide off the peel.)
• Bake until crust is puffed, golden brown in places, and set on bottom, and cheese is bubbly, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer pizza to a wire rack; let cool 2 to 3 minutes. Top with basil and pepper flakes, slice, and serve immediately.

CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven and boil pasta: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add salt generously and cook pasta 2 to 3 minutes less than manufacturer's instructions (the outside should be cooked but the inside underdone. Transfer to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well.
• Meanwhile, make bread crumbs: Tear bread into large pieces and pulse a few times in a food processor to form very large crumbs. Transfer to a bowl, and add melted butter. Toss evenly to coat.
• Prepare baking dishes: Butter eight 6-ounce shallow baking dishes or one 1 1/2-quart baking dish.
• Make cheese sauce: Melt butter in a 4-quart pot over medium heat, add onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until bubbling but not browning, about 45 seconds. Add milk and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer, stirring with a wooden spoon (scrape across the bottom and around edge of pot to prevent scorching), until thickened, about 4 minutes. Add fontina, 2/3 cup grated Gruyere, 1 2/3 cups grated cheddar, and 1/2 cup Parmigianno-Reggiano, stirring until completely melted and sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper, add cayenne and nutmeg, and stir to combine.
• Assemble and add cheese topping: Add pasta to sauce and stir to thoroughly combine. Pour into prepared baking dishes and sprinkle evenly with the reserved cheeses, followed by the bread crumbs. If using, top with roasted tomato slices and thyme.
• Bake: Place dishes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until bubbling and cheese is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

MARGHERITA MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Cook macaroni as directed on the package. While macaroni is cooking, prepare the sauce.
• Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes, or until garlic is fragrant. Whisk in flour, salt and pepper and cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir one minute. Set aside.
• Drain pasta and mix with the drained diced tomatoes. Place half of the macaroni in an ungreased 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with half the salt, pepper, basil and cheese. Repeat with remaining macaroni, salt, pepper, basil and cheese. Pour sauce over macaroni. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes longer. Serve with fresh basil.