A mac attack, but with a kick!
For 35 years of my life, the charms of mac and cheese were lost on me. It was always too runny, too bland, or too salty. A friend fixed Martha Stewart’s lobster mac and cheese for her birthday one year, and I was impressed, but not hooked. Then, I started dating a mac and cheese master.
He knew home cooking like a champ and wooed me by baking a homemade batch in a cast-iron skillet over a campfire in the California Redwoods. And I GOT IT. It was the ideal combination of cheeses, all brought down to the perfect melt and bound together with eggs and silky cream. It had slight traces of spices, giving an underlying seasoning that never took away from the pasta and cheese extravaganza.
Cheese and pasta casseroles were found in Italian cookbooks in the 14th century, but The Experienced English Housekeeper from 1769 carried the first recipe for the modern mac and cheese. James Hemings, an enslaved chef trained in French cooking while accompanying Thomas Jefferson in France, likely helped popularize macaroni and cheese in the United States, where Jefferson served it at a White House dinner in 1802.
Cheesy, buttery, creamy, and rich all describe a classic pan of mac and cheese, and this recipe adds in the lightly spiced, slightly sweet pimento peppers to give the dish a lively kick.
Is Pimento Mac And Cheese Healthy?
Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, and if you’re dieting, this probably isn’t the recipe to reach for. Sure, skim milk and reduced-fat cheeses can be substituted, but who wants that? The full mac and cheese effect is firing on all cylinders when whole milk or cream and full-fat, high-quality cheeses are used. So, save this one for a day when you’re feeling the comfort food vibes and enjoy in moderation.
What Are Pimento Peppers?
Pimento peppers are known for their mild spice and slight sweetness. On the Scoville Heat Index, they score between 100 and 500 units, one of the lowest scores of any “spicy” pepper.
However, their subtle flavor is unique, and they can be used in anything from stuffing green olives to being mixed with cheddar cheese and mayonnaise as a pimento cheese spread or with finely chopped beef, pork, and pickles to create pimento loaf. Pimento cheese is referred to as the “caviar of the South” in the United States, where it is used as a spread on sandwiches, served with chips and crackers as a dip, or mixed in with grits and deviled egg filling.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
If you have any leftover mac and cheese, store it in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Serving Suggestions
Pimento mac and cheese will be the star of your dinner table. Most people serve this as the main course, with salad or vegetables being a welcoming, light side. In Southern kitchens, the mac is served as the side dish, and fried chicken takes the starring role. Whatever adventure you choose, mouths will be watering.
If you want to go with the classic deep South recipes, try making your own Fried Chicken Wings. For some lighter and greener sides, check out this Green Goddess Salad alongside some Wilted Spinach.
For more mac and cheese madness, try this Buffalo Chicken Mac And Cheese, this Pulled Pork Mac And Cheese, or this Bacon Mac And Cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 jar pimentos (4 ounces) drained and chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Gradually whisk in whole milk, and cook until the mixture thickens and starts to bubble. Reduce heat to low.
- Stir in shredded cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and cream cheese until smooth. Add chopped pimentos, salt, and pepper, and stir until well combined.
- Combine cooked macaroni and cheese sauce in a baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly and golden on top.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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