Pancetta Gruyere Parmesan And Fontina Mac Cheese Recipes

GRUYèRE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• For the béchamel: Heat the milk, onion, and bay leaf in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until steam wisps start to rise from the milk (this is scalding the milk, the stage just before boiling), then turn the heat to low. Meanwhile, bring water to a rapid boil in a large saucepan; salt the water. Add the macaroni, immediately stir with a wooden spoon to prevent sticking, and cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• As the macaroni cooks, prepare the roux: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat; then whisk in the flour and cook, stirring, to remove the raw flavor of the flour. Once the mixture is bubbling, turn the heat down to low as it continues to cook, about 5 minutes. Add a pinch of cayenne. Slowly add the scalded milk, whisking vigorously after each addition until sauce is smooth. (Discard the onion and bay leaf.) The sauce will thicken as it heats, so be sure to whisk continuously to avoid burning. When all the milk is incorporated, bring to a simmer again before taking the saucepan off the heat. Drain the cooked pasta thoroughly.
• Whisk the cream into the béchamel and season with salt and pepper. Place the macaroni in a large bowl and add 2 cups of the Gruyère. Pour the béchamel on top and stir well to combine. Season to taste with salt.
• Assemble and bake the macaroni: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Pour macaroni into a buttered baking dish and top with the remaining Gruyère, then sprinkle on the panko and Parmesan. Bake until the top is lightly browned and cheese is bubbly, 20-30 minutes.
• Remove macaroni from the oven and set aside. Chop chives and parsley and garnish before serving.

FONTINA-GRUYERE-WHITE CHEDDAR MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the macaroni until barely al dente, about 6 minutes. Drain; return to the pot.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and cook over moderately high heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the milk and bring to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F Melt 6 tablespoons of the butter in another large saucepan. Add the flour and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until lightly golden, about 5 minutes; remove from the heat.
• Gradually whisk the simmering milk into the flour and butter mixture until smooth. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook over low heat, whisking, until thick and bubbling, about 7 minutes. Stir in the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Add the cheeses and cook over low heat, stirring, just until melted. Fold in the macaroni until coated with sauce. Spread the macaroni in a 3-quart baking dish.
• Bake for about 25 minutes, or until lightly golden and bubbling.

FONTINA & PARMESAN MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to broil (high or low, depending on your oven intensity). Heat a large pot of water until boiling, add salt to boiling water until it's "salty like the sea". Cook the pasta till al dente, and drain.
• Melt 4-5 tablespoons of butter over medium low heat until melted and add heavy cream. Warm cream until heated through, do not boil the cream. Add the spices and seasonings to taste, but remember to not over salt as the parmesan cheese is slightly salted. Remove from heat and all of the fontina cheese and 1/2 cup parmesan, stir until combined.
• Pour the cheese sauce into the pasta and mix until well combined. Melt 1-2 tablespoons of butter and mix with Panko, remaining Parmesan cheese, parsley, and a pinch of garlic salt if you'd like.
• Transfer pasta and cheese mixture to a baking dish, top with Panko mixture and broil until bubbly and toasty on top. Serve immediately.