Needing to use up the Gruyere left over from Christmas Eve, I finally made an adult macaroni and cheese. The perfect recipe seemed to be Martha Stewart’s, according to several sources online. I liked that it incorporated Gruyere and included bread crumbs. Rather than make the bread crumbs, I used what we had on hand, which was panko (Japanese bread crumbs). It turned out really well, by adding a light and crispy topping. As for the macaroni and cheese, it was everything I could ask for—creamy and flavorful. The cayenne pepper gave it a nice kick and the nutmeg didn't seem out of place.
The original recipe yields enough to feed an army, so I halved it and included the edits here. I substituted the milk with heavy cream, only because we needed to use that up as well. I'm sure it only made it richer.
Perfect
Macaroni and Cheese
Yield: Serves 6
4 tablespoons (1 stick)
unsalted butter, plus more for dish
2-¾ cups milk or heavy cream
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoons kosher salt
⅛ teaspoon freshly
grated nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon freshly
ground black pepper
⅛ teaspoon cayenne
pepper
2-¼ cups (about 18
ounces) grated sharp white cheddar
1 cup grated Gruyere
½ pound elbow macaroni
panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
1) Heat the oven to 375 degrees.
2) Butter a 1-½-quart casserole dish; set aside.
3) In a medium saucepan set
over medium heat, heat milk or cream.
4) Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a high-sided
skillet over medium heat.
5) When butter bubbles, add
flour.
6) Cook, stirring, 1 minute.
7) Slowly pour hot milk or cream into flour-butter mixture while whisking.
8) Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the
mixture bubbles and becomes thick.
9) Remove the pan from the heat.
10) Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne
pepper, 1-½ cups cheddar,
and ¾ Gruyere.
11) Set cheese sauce aside.
12) Fill a large saucepan with water.
13) Bring to a boil.
14) Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 fewer minutes than
manufacturer's directions, until outside of pasta is cooked and inside is
underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to
read the instructions.)
15) Transfer the macaroni to a colander, rinse under
cold running water, and drain well.
16) Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.
17) Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole
dish.
18) Sprinkle remaining ¾ cups cheddar and ¼ cup Gruyere; scatter breadcrumbs over the top.
19) Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes.
20) Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool for 5
minutes; serve.
