Indulge in the symphony of flavors and textures presented by Macaroni n' Cheese Italiano, a captivating dish that blends the comforting goodness of classic macaroni and cheese with the vibrant zest of Italian herbs and spices. This culinary masterpiece elevates the beloved macaroni and cheese to new heights, offering a delightful balance of creamy, cheesy indulgence and zesty, savory notes. As you embark on this culinary journey, you'll encounter variations of this iconic dish, each showcasing unique flavor profiles and culinary artistry. From the classic Macaroni n' Cheese Italiano, boasting a rich blend of cheeses and aromatic herbs, to the tantalizing Creamy Pesto Macaroni n' Cheese, where basil pesto adds a burst of freshness, and the intriguing Sun-Dried Tomato and Spinach Macaroni n' Cheese, brimming with Mediterranean flavors, there's a recipe to satisfy every palate.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
ITALIAN MACARONI AND CHEESE
A rich creamy Italian macaroni cheese made the Italian way with a thick cheese fondue. This is a decadent meal that you will savor.
Provided by Kit
Categories dinner
Time 12m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. As soon as the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and stir. While the pasta cooks, prepare the cheese fondue. Heat the cream in a saucepan over medium low heat until it is steaming but not bubbling. Add the rocchetta cheese, and stir until it melts. Keep it steaming hot until the pasta is ready. Undercook the pasta just a little, you want to let it finish cooking right in the cheese fondue. Once the pasta is very very al dente, drain it and add it to the cheese fondue and let it cook in the sauce for 2 minutes. Then add the parmesan, stir, and divide the macaroni and cheese between two bowls. Top with freshly ground black pepper, and toasted breadcrumbs if you like, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 427 calories, Carbohydrate 34 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 81 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 27 grams fat, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 12 grams protein, SaturatedFat 17 grams saturated fat, ServingSize 1, Sodium 418 grams sodium, Sugar 3 grams sugar, TransFat 1 grams trans fat, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams unsaturated fat
MACARONI AND CHEESE
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 45m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Butter a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish and set aside. Cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Drain well, but do not rinse.
- Whisk the cream, milk, flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper in large bowl to blend. Stir in 1 cup Fontina, 1/2 cup Parmesan, 1/2 cup mozzarella, ham, if using, and parsley. Add the noodles and toss to coat. Transfer the noodle mixture to the prepared baking dish. Toss the remaining 1 cup Fontina, 1/4 cup Parmesan, and 1/4 cup mozzarella in a small bowl to blend. Sprinkle the cheese mixture over the noodle mixture. Bake until the sauce bubbles and the cheese melts and begins to brown on top, about 20 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
MACARONI 'N' CHEESE ITALIANO
"I've always liked macaroni and cheese, but my husband prefers macaroni with tomato sauce. So I added spaghetti sauce and mozzarella to give my mac and cheese an Italian flavor," writes Isabelle Wolters of Scituate, Massachusetts.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 45m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions until cooked but firm. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, saute the onion, celery and green pepper in oil until tender. Stir in spaghetti sauce, basil and oregano. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Drain macaroni; stir into sauce. Transfer to a 2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray; set aside. , In a saucepan, combine the flour, salt, nutmeg and cayenne. Gradually stir in milk until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until melted. , Pour over macaroni mixture. Top with Parmesan cheese and tomatoes. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 262 calories, Fat 9g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 25mg cholesterol, Sodium 406mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 16g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
ITALIAN MAC-N-CHEESE
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings, plus leftovers
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt water and cook pasta to a chewy al dente, about 8 minutes.
- In a nonstick skillet, brown and crumble the sausage. Drain cooked crumbles on paper towel lined plate. Return pan to heat and add extra-virgin olive oil, butter, garlic and mushrooms. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Saute 3 to 5 minutes, until mushrooms are lightly golden.
- Preheat broiler to high.
- To mushrooms, add flour and stir, cooking 2 minutes. Whisk in stock, then stir in cream. Bring cream to a bubble, then stir in 2 cups of 4 cheese blend. When cheese has melted into sauce, add tomatoes. When sauce comes to a bubble, remove from heat and adjust seasonings, adding hot sauce if desired.
- Combine cheese sauce with sausage and pasta, transfer to flameproof baking dish, casserole or flameproof serving platter. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of 4 cheese blend and the grated Parmesan over the top and brown under hot broiler.
MACARONI 'N' CHEESE ITALIANO
Spaghetti sauce and mozzarella give this mac and cheese dish an Italian flavor. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1 1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat. This recipe is from Isabelle Wolters. I found this recipe in Light & Tasty magazine. I have not tried this recipe, but I'm posting it for safe keepin.
Provided by internetnut
Categories Weeknight
Time 40m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Prepare pasta according to package directions until cooked but firm.
- Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, saute the onion, celery and green pepper in oil until tender.
- Stir in spaghetti sauce, basil and oregano.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
- Drain macaroni; stir into sauce.
- Transfer to a 2-quart baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
- In a saucepan, combine the flour, salt, nutmeg and cayenne.
- Gradually stir in milk until smooth.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
- Reduce heat; stir in cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until melted.
- Pour over macaroni mixture.
- Top with Parmesan cheese and tomatoes.
- Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 250.9, Fat 5.8, SaturatedFat 2.6, Cholesterol 15.2, Sodium 385.8, Carbohydrate 36, Fiber 2, Sugar 6.7, Protein 13.3
ITALIAN THREE-CHEESE MACARONI
My husband is a self-proclaimed mac-and-cheese connoisseur and says that this is his favorite version. The Italian seasoning and tomatoes really complement the pasta and cheeses. -Adriane Mummert, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h20m
Yield 12 servings (1 cup each).
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cheddar and Parmesan cheeses until melted. Drain macaroni., Spread 1 cup cheese sauce in a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Layer with half of macaroni, tomatoes and cheese sauce. Repeat layers. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Combine bread crumbs and butter; sprinkle over top., Cover and bake 40 minutes. Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes longer or until golden brown and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 402 calories, Fat 23g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 66mg cholesterol, Sodium 763mg sodium, Carbohydrate 33g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 17g protein.
MACARONI AND CHEESE
When it comes to comfort food, nothing tops mac 'n' cheese, especially Martha's easy-to-make version.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Yield Serves 12
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside. Place bread in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour butter into bowl with bread, and toss. Set breadcrumbs aside.
- In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat milk. Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, whisking, 1 minute.
- While whisking, slowly pour in hot milk. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.
- Remove pan from heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar cheese, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyere or 1 cup Pecorino Romano; set cheese sauce aside.
- Fill a large saucepan with water; bring to a boil. Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 minutes less than manufacturer's directions, until the outside of pasta is cooked and the inside is underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to read the instructions.) Transfer macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce
- Pour mixture into prepared dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Gruyere or 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano, and breadcrumbs over top. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool 5 minutes; serve hot.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the final dish. Use a good quality pasta, a flavorful cheese, and fresh vegetables.
- Cook the pasta al dente. This means that it should be cooked until it is tender but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked pasta will be mushy and unpleasant to eat.
- Make a flavorful cheese sauce. The cheese sauce is the key to a great macaroni and cheese. Use a combination of cheeses that you like, and make sure to cook it until it is smooth and creamy.
- Add some vegetables. Vegetables will add flavor, color, and nutrients to your macaroni and cheese. Some good options include broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and peas.
- Bake it until golden brown. Baking the macaroni and cheese until it is golden brown will give it a delicious crispy crust.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With its rich, cheesy flavor and creamy texture, it's the perfect dish to serve at a family gathering or potluck. Experiment with different cheeses, vegetables, and seasonings to create your own unique macaroni and cheese recipe.
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