Bacon and Hatch Chile Mac-N-Cheese Recipe
4 stars -
based on 2 votes
Tried it? Rate this Recipe:
|
Category: |
Category: |
|
Ingredients: |
Ingredients: 1 lb Cavatappi* pasta cooked al dente. Retain 1/2 cup pasta water
12 oz Grated white cheeses**
1 quart heavy cream
3/4 cup diced roasted Hatch chiles skinned seeded and ribs removed
1/2 pound thick smoked bacon fried crisp and drained (mostly)
2 cups Panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup Queso Fresco
6 teaspoons butter
Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
* Any small pasta can work, but elbow macaroni is kinda boring
** For best results hand grate block cheeses, pre-shredded will not be as good! Some recommended blends are Muenster, Havarti, and Wisconsin Sharp White Cheddar, or Gruyere, Fontina and Wisconsin Grand Cru Alpine, I also sometimes use Oaxaca cheese with some Vermont Sharp White Cheddar.
|
|
Directions: |
Directions:Preheat Oven to 400º
In a large iron skillet, bring cream to a boil. Add butter and lower heat. Continue boiling until reduced by a third.
Stir in cheese, bacon, chiles and cooked pasta. Add 1/4 cup pasta water, salt, and stir until cheese is melted and smooth. Add more pasta water if necessary. Cover and remove from heat.
In small bowl, mix Panko crumbs and crushed queso fresco.
Garnish the pasta with the bread crumb mix, a little fresh ground black pepper, and place in the oven.
Bake uncovered for about 15 minutes or when top is golden brown.
Rest 5-10 minutes before serving. |
|
Number Of
Servings: |
Number Of
Servings:4-7 depending on who is at the table |
Preparation
Time: |
Preparation
Time:45 minutes |
Personal
Notes: |
Personal
Notes: When my wife is not watching, I also like to add sweet yellow onion, about 1/2 a medium onion chopped and sauteed with the bacon as it cooks. Add them in together. In Colorado we get a variety of local chiles more on the order of Pueblo green chiles. I get whatever is fresh or fresh roasted at the farmers market if the grower says they are not too mild or too hot. I won't tell you which ones come out better. Just keep experimenting!
|
|
This recipe for Bacon and Hatch Chile Mac-N-Cheese is from