Loaded Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese
Ingredients:
For the sauce:
2 tbsp butter
2 1/2 tbsp flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk, at room temperature
1/2 tsp mustard powder
8 oz shredded sharp cheddar
8 oz shredded muenster
cloves from 2 bulbs roasted garlic, minced into a paste
2 caramelized yellow onions
1/2 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
10 oz elbow macaroni, cooked to al dente
For the topping:
1/2 cup panko
1 tsp olive oil
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a deep glass or ceramic loaf pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a small bowl, toss together the panko bread crumbs and olive oil for the topping. Work the oil into the bread crumbs with your fingers until evenly disbursed with no lumps. Place in a dry saute pan over medium heat. Toast the bread crumbs until golden, stirring regularly for even toasting. Remove from heat and set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Boil pasta until tender according to the directions on the package. Drain thoroughly.
While the water is coming to a boil and the pasta is cooking,make the cheese sauce. Add butter to a medium sized sauce pan over medium heat. Once butter has melted, add flour to create the roux. Cook the roux, whisking constantly for about 2 to 3 minutes, to cook away the raw flour flavor. Slowly drizzle in the room temperature milk while whisking constantly to dissolve the roux into the liquid. When the liquid is first introduced the roux will begin to seize up, but as more liquid is added it will return to a smooth paste. Adding the liquid too quickly will result in a lumpy sauce. Once all milk has been incorporated into the bechemel, add the mustard powder. Stir. Cook bechemel over medium heat, stirring frequently and scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent scorching, until sauce comes to a simmer, not a boil. Simmer 2-3 more minutes until thickened to the point of coating the back of a spoon. Add muenster, sharp cheddar and roasted garlic paste. Stir until cheese has completely melted into the bechemel. Taste. Adjust seasoning with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper as desired.
In a large bowl or pot, combine cooked/drained macaroni, cheese sauce, caramelized onions and bacon. Stir to coat pasta thoroughly and evenly disperse ingredients. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle top evenly with toasted panko. Place into preheated oven. Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes or until cheese sauce is bubbly around the edges. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
