Best 4 Thomas Kellers Macaroni Gratin Grati De Macaroni Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary masterpiece with Thomas Keller's Macaroni Gratin, a delectable dish that embodies the essence of French comfort food. This classic recipe, also known as Gratin de Macaroni, is an exquisite combination of tender macaroni, a creamy béchamel sauce, and a golden brown crust of grated cheese. It offers a perfect balance of textures and flavors, making it a beloved dish among food enthusiasts. This article presents not only the original Macaroni Gratin recipe but also two variations: a vegetarian version and a seafood version. Each recipe is meticulously crafted to deliver a unique culinary experience, catering to diverse preferences and dietary needs. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook seeking a challenge, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and techniques to create a remarkable dish that will impress your family and friends.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

OVERNIGHT MACARONI AND CHEESE GRATIN



Overnight Macaroni and Cheese Gratin image

A French recipe that uses Gruyere instead of Cheddar cheese. Great sophisticated side dish for steaks and roasts.

Provided by Nathalie Coleman

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time P1DT1h4m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 cups elbow macaroni
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 ¼ cups milk
1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese, divided
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until halfway cooked, about 4 minutes. Drain.
  • Combine heavy cream, milk, and Gruyere cheese in a large bowl. Add elbow macaroni and mix well; season with salt and pepper. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
  • Bring the macaroni mixture to room temperature, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Pour into a 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle remaining Gruyere cheese on top.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden and crispy, 15 to 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 507.2 calories, Carbohydrate 31.8 g, Cholesterol 132.6 mg, Fat 37 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 13.6 g, SaturatedFat 22.5 g, Sodium 139.2 mg, Sugar 3.8 g

THOMAS KELLER'S MACARONI GRATIN (GRATI DE MACARONI) RECIPE RECIPE



Thomas Keller's Macaroni Gratin (Grati de Macaroni) Recipe Recipe image

Provided by tulawdog

Number Of Ingredients 55

8ounces8 ounces small elbow macaroni
3cups3 cups Mornay sauce (recipe follows)
Heavy cream if needed
1cup1 cup sauteed wild mushroom or 1/2 cup julienned Bayonne ham (optional) * I used 1/2 cup sauteed smoked bacon
Kosher salt and freshly ground white pepper
Fresh grated nutmeg
2 to 3tsp2 to 3 tsp minced thyme
1/2cup1/2 cup grated Comte or Emmentaler chesse * I use Dutch Gouda
2 to 3tbsp2 to 3 tbsp panko (Japanese bread crumbs) or dried bread crumbs
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Sunday, March 6, 2011
Thomas Keller's Macaroni and Cheese
Is there such a thing as "the perfect pizza crust" or "the best chocolate cake"?
Taste is a very subjective thing. It's a sense that varies from person to person. Everyone has their own preference for sweetness, saltiness, sourness and bitterness. Each of us has his or her own opinion on how the perfect texture should be.
My second attempt on Thomas Keller's recipe was his macaroni and cheese or macaroni gratin in his Bouchon cookbook. This recipe is a whole new ball game compared to his simple roast chicken.
How hard can it be to cook a macaroni and cheese?
If you are familiar with Thomas Keller's recipes, you know most of his recipes are extremely fiddly. His strive for perfection, precision and meticulously detailed instructions are clearly portrayed in all his cookbooks, and in this recipe.
3030 minutes to cook a Mornay sauce for his macaroni and cheese. Using a diffuser for the saucepan while cooking the Mornay sauce so the heat can be maintained at the lowest level. To him, the humble macaroni and cheese is simply not a fast food.
Cloves, nutmeg, bay leaf are added to spice up the dish. Panko crumbs are sprinkled on top to give texture. The details are down to what type of cheese and which type of ham you should use.
However, do all of the above make his the best macaroni and cheese?
It was a thumbs down from the usually easy to please Mr J. He reckons it's too creamy as opposed to cheesy. He prefers his mac and cheese to have more cheese than cream and milk. The panko crumbs didn't do it for him either.
What about my verdict? I am on a post Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year diet. I had salad for dinner while they tucked into this calorie laden dish. That's the price I have to pay for living with two stick thin, genetically well blessed humans.
Thomas Keller's Macaroni Gratin (Grati de Macaroni) Recipe
(Adapted from Thomas Keller's Bouchon)
Serves 4
Thomas Keller, "A standard dish in bistros, not to mention an American favorite - macaroni and cheese. This version is tossed with a Mornay sauce seasoned with nutmeg, sprinkled with thyme and bread crumbs, and baked until bubbling and crispy on top."
Ingredients
8ounces8 ounces small elbow macaroni
3cups3 cups Mornay sauce (recipe follows)
Heavy cream if needed
1cup1 cup sauteed wild mushroom or 1/2 cup julienned Bayonne ham (optional) * I used 1/2 cup sauteed smoked bacon
Kosher salt and freshly ground white pepper
Fresh grated nutmeg
2 to 3tsp2 to 3 tsp minced thyme
1/2cup1/2 cup grated Comte or Emmentaler chesse * I use Dutch Gouda
2 to 3tbsp2 to 3 tbsp panko (Japanese bread crumbs) or dried bread crumbs
Method
11. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender; drain, rinse under cold water, and drain on paper towels.
22. Meanwhile, put a rack in the top third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400F.
44. Pour into an 8-cup gratin dish, such as a 9-by-15-inch oval, or into individual gratin or baking dishes. Sprinkle the top with the thyme, cheese, and bread crumbs.
Mornay Sauce Recipe
Makes 3 cups
Ingredients
4tbsp4 tbsp unsalted butter
2/3cup2/3 cup diced Spanish onion
Kosher salt
1/4cup1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 2/3cup2 2/3 cup milk
11 1 /3 cup heavy cream or as needed
11 bay leaf
44 black peppercorns
44 whole cloves
Freshly ground nutmeg
Freshly ground white pepper
1/2cup1/2 cup grated Comte or Emmentaler cheese

Steps:

  • Mornay sauce: 1. Melt the butter in a large heavy saucepan set on a diffuser over medium heat. 2. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. 3. Sprinkle in the flour and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly so that the roux doesn't burn or color. 4. Whisking constantly, add the milk and cream and whisk until fully incorporated. 5. Bring to a simmer, whisking, then add the bay leaf, peppercorns, and cloves. 6. Move the pan to one side of the diffuser, away from direct heat to avoid scorching, and bring back to a gentle simmer. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook, whisking occasionally, reaching into the corners of the pan, for about 30 minutes. (If the sauce does begin to scorch, pour it into a clean pan - don't scrape the bottom of the pan - and continue). 7. Remove the sauce from the heat and season to taste with salt, a grating of nutmeg, and a pinch of white pepper. 8. Strain the sauce, add the cheese, and whisk to melt. 9. Use immediately, or place in a storage container, press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface to keep a skin from forming, and refrigerate for up to a week. 10. If the sauce is too thick after refrigeration, it can be thinned with a little heavy cream. Mac and Cheese 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender; drain, rinse under cold water, and drain on paper towels. 2. Meanwhile, put a rack in the top third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400F. 3. Warm the Mornay sauce in a large saucepan over low heat. If the sauce has been refrigerated and seems too thick, thin it with a little additional heavy cream. Remove from the heat and add the macaroni and mushrooms or ham, if using (* I use sauteed smoked bacon). Mix well and season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. (The mixture may look loose, but the macaroni will continue to absorb sauce and it will thicken as it bakes.) 4. Pour into an 8-cup gratin dish, such as a 9-by-15-inch oval, or into individual gratin or baking dishes. Sprinkle the top with the thyme, cheese, and bread crumbs. 5. Place the gratin dish(es) on a baking sheet in order to catch any sauce that may bubble over, then place in the oven. Turn the heat down to 375F and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the mixture is hot and bubbling around the edges. If the gratin has not browned, turn on the broiler to brown the top.

MACARONI AU GRATIN



Macaroni au Gratin image

This 30-minute mac and cheese from chef Ashley Christensen is a bestseller at her Raleigh, NC restaurant, Poole's Diner. What makes it special: the three-cheese combo is brûléed under the broiler for a crust you must crack through to reach the creamy macaroni below.

Provided by Ashley Christensen

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
6 ounces dry elbow macaroni, about 1¼ cups
2 ounces Grana Padano cheese, grated, or Parmesan
2 ounces Jarlsberg cheese, grated, or Gruyère
6 ounces white Cheddar, grated
2 cups heavy cream
Sea salt

Steps:

  • Preheat broiler. In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring 2 quarts water and kosher salt to a boil. Add macaroni and return water to a boil; cook until barely al dente, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir the grated Grana Padano, Jarlsberg, and Cheddar cheeses to combine. Set aside. Taste a macaroni for doneness: it should be chewy yet firm. Strain macaroni in a colander and set aside.
  • Add heavy cream and a pinch of sea salt to an oven-safe skillet; turn heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. When cream is simmering, fold in the macaroni. Continue to simmer to reduce and thicken, about 1½-2 minutes. Stir in ¼ of the cheese mixture to combine with noodles. Turn off the heat and stir in another ¼ of the cheese. Place remaining cheese over the top in an even layer (do not stir).
  • Set rack in the oven about 4 inches from the broiler. Place skillet under the broiler until cheese melts and caramelizes into a golden brown crust, 3-5 minutes (keeping an eye on it so it doesn't burn). Remove gratin from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving.

THOMAS KELLER'S MACARONI GRATIN (GRATI DE MACARONI) RECIPE RECIPE



Thomas Keller's Macaroni Gratin (Grati de Macaroni) Recipe Recipe image

Provided by tulawdog

Number Of Ingredients 55

8ounces8 ounces small elbow macaroni
3cups3 cups Mornay sauce (recipe follows)
Heavy cream if needed
1cup1 cup sauteed wild mushroom or 1/2 cup julienned Bayonne ham (optional) * I used 1/2 cup sauteed smoked bacon
Kosher salt and freshly ground white pepper
Fresh grated nutmeg
2 to 3tsp2 to 3 tsp minced thyme
1/2cup1/2 cup grated Comte or Emmentaler chesse * I use Dutch Gouda
2 to 3tbsp2 to 3 tbsp panko (Japanese bread crumbs) or dried bread crumbs
Nuffnang Ads
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Thomas Keller's Macaroni and Cheese
Is there such a thing as "the perfect pizza crust" or "the best chocolate cake"?
Taste is a very subjective thing. It's a sense that varies from person to person. Everyone has their own preference for sweetness, saltiness, sourness and bitterness. Each of us has his or her own opinion on how the perfect texture should be.
My second attempt on Thomas Keller's recipe was his macaroni and cheese or macaroni gratin in his Bouchon cookbook. This recipe is a whole new ball game compared to his simple roast chicken.
How hard can it be to cook a macaroni and cheese?
If you are familiar with Thomas Keller's recipes, you know most of his recipes are extremely fiddly. His strive for perfection, precision and meticulously detailed instructions are clearly portrayed in all his cookbooks, and in this recipe.
3030 minutes to cook a Mornay sauce for his macaroni and cheese. Using a diffuser for the saucepan while cooking the Mornay sauce so the heat can be maintained at the lowest level. To him, the humble macaroni and cheese is simply not a fast food.
Cloves, nutmeg, bay leaf are added to spice up the dish. Panko crumbs are sprinkled on top to give texture. The details are down to what type of cheese and which type of ham you should use.
However, do all of the above make his the best macaroni and cheese?
It was a thumbs down from the usually easy to please Mr J. He reckons it's too creamy as opposed to cheesy. He prefers his mac and cheese to have more cheese than cream and milk. The panko crumbs didn't do it for him either.
What about my verdict? I am on a post Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year diet. I had salad for dinner while they tucked into this calorie laden dish. That's the price I have to pay for living with two stick thin, genetically well blessed humans.
Thomas Keller's Macaroni Gratin (Grati de Macaroni) Recipe
(Adapted from Thomas Keller's Bouchon)
Serves 4
Thomas Keller, "A standard dish in bistros, not to mention an American favorite - macaroni and cheese. This version is tossed with a Mornay sauce seasoned with nutmeg, sprinkled with thyme and bread crumbs, and baked until bubbling and crispy on top."
Ingredients
8ounces8 ounces small elbow macaroni
3cups3 cups Mornay sauce (recipe follows)
Heavy cream if needed
1cup1 cup sauteed wild mushroom or 1/2 cup julienned Bayonne ham (optional) * I used 1/2 cup sauteed smoked bacon
Kosher salt and freshly ground white pepper
Fresh grated nutmeg
2 to 3tsp2 to 3 tsp minced thyme
1/2cup1/2 cup grated Comte or Emmentaler chesse * I use Dutch Gouda
2 to 3tbsp2 to 3 tbsp panko (Japanese bread crumbs) or dried bread crumbs
Method
11. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender; drain, rinse under cold water, and drain on paper towels.
22. Meanwhile, put a rack in the top third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400F.
44. Pour into an 8-cup gratin dish, such as a 9-by-15-inch oval, or into individual gratin or baking dishes. Sprinkle the top with the thyme, cheese, and bread crumbs.
Mornay Sauce Recipe
Makes 3 cups
Ingredients
4tbsp4 tbsp unsalted butter
2/3cup2/3 cup diced Spanish onion
Kosher salt
1/4cup1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 2/3cup2 2/3 cup milk
11 1 /3 cup heavy cream or as needed
11 bay leaf
44 black peppercorns
44 whole cloves
Freshly ground nutmeg
Freshly ground white pepper
1/2cup1/2 cup grated Comte or Emmentaler cheese

Steps:

  • Mornay sauce: 1. Melt the butter in a large heavy saucepan set on a diffuser over medium heat. 2. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. 3. Sprinkle in the flour and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly so that the roux doesn't burn or color. 4. Whisking constantly, add the milk and cream and whisk until fully incorporated. 5. Bring to a simmer, whisking, then add the bay leaf, peppercorns, and cloves. 6. Move the pan to one side of the diffuser, away from direct heat to avoid scorching, and bring back to a gentle simmer. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook, whisking occasionally, reaching into the corners of the pan, for about 30 minutes. (If the sauce does begin to scorch, pour it into a clean pan - don't scrape the bottom of the pan - and continue). 7. Remove the sauce from the heat and season to taste with salt, a grating of nutmeg, and a pinch of white pepper. 8. Strain the sauce, add the cheese, and whisk to melt. 9. Use immediately, or place in a storage container, press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface to keep a skin from forming, and refrigerate for up to a week. 10. If the sauce is too thick after refrigeration, it can be thinned with a little heavy cream. Mac and Cheese 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender; drain, rinse under cold water, and drain on paper towels. 2. Meanwhile, put a rack in the top third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400F. 3. Warm the Mornay sauce in a large saucepan over low heat. If the sauce has been refrigerated and seems too thick, thin it with a little additional heavy cream. Remove from the heat and add the macaroni and mushrooms or ham, if using (* I use sauteed smoked bacon). Mix well and season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. (The mixture may look loose, but the macaroni will continue to absorb sauce and it will thicken as it bakes.) 4. Pour into an 8-cup gratin dish, such as a 9-by-15-inch oval, or into individual gratin or baking dishes. Sprinkle the top with the thyme, cheese, and bread crumbs. 5. Place the gratin dish(es) on a baking sheet in order to catch any sauce that may bubble over, then place in the oven. Turn the heat down to 375F and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the mixture is hot and bubbling around the edges. If the gratin has not browned, turn on the broiler to brown the top.

Tips:

  • To make the perfect béchamel sauce, start with a roux made from equal parts butter and flour. Whisk the roux over medium heat until it is smooth and golden brown.
  • Gradually whisk in milk to the roux, a little at a time, until the sauce is smooth and thick. Season the sauce with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
  • Cook the macaroni until it is al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. Drain the macaroni and rinse it with cold water.
  • Combine the macaroni, béchamel sauce, Gruyère cheese, and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Transfer the macaroni mixture to a greased baking dish and top with additional Gruyère cheese. Bake the macaroni gratin in a preheated oven until it is golden brown and bubbly.
  • Let the macaroni gratin cool for a few minutes before serving. Serve the macaroni gratin with a green salad or roasted vegetables.

Conclusion:

Thomas Keller's macaroni gratin is a classic French dish that is perfect for any occasion. This dish is made with a few simple ingredients, but it is packed with flavor. The béchamel sauce is smooth and creamy, the macaroni is cooked to perfection, and the Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses are melted and bubbly. This dish is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

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