Gouda Mac and Cheese

• servings: 8 servings
• active time: 20 minutes
• total time: 1 hour

Ingredients

16 oz pasta (pipe rigate)

¼ cup pasta water

3 cups whole milk (warmed)

½ cup heavy cream (warmed)

1 cup (8 oz.) white cheddar

1 cup (8 oz) gouda

1 cup (8 oz.) medium/sharp cheddar

1 cup colby jack (OG recipe says gruyere)

1 shallot, finely diced

4 oz cream cheese (softened)

2½ tsp sodium citrate

3 tbsp butter

3 tbsp flour

½-1 tsp dijon mustard

White pepper (to taste)

Salt (to taste)

¾ cup panko

2 tbsp unsalted butter

1 tsp chile ancho powder

2 tsp smoked paprika

Salt to taste

Directions

Melt the butter.

Add the shallot and sauté for 3–5 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic, cooking for 30 seconds - 1 minute until fragrant. Add in flour and cook until slightly browned. About 2-3 minutes.

Whisk in the warmed milk a little bit at a time until fully incorporated. Let it thicken for 3-4 minutes whisking constantly. This will create your roux. Add the sodium citrate.

Add you heated heavy cream and continue letting it thicken. You want it to coat the back of a spoon.

Add your cream cheese to a small bowl and add a few tbsp of the milk mixture you just made (béchamel). Mix until smooth and set aside.

Whisk in the dijon and pepper to your béchamel. Turn heat off and slowly whisk in the grated cheeses. Mix in your cream cheese. Salt to taste.

Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until almost al dente but not fully, since it'll bake. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water.

In a pan, add the butter for the crumble and melt. Add in panko and seasonings. Let it get to very lightly golden.

Butter your baking dish and add the pasta with ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Add the cheese sauce evenly and mix. Top with the extra grated cheese (measure with your heart) and crumble on top.

Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes and that is it.

Nutrition

• Calories: 741 kcal
• Total Fat: 44 g
• Saturated Fat: 26 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
• Trans Fat: 0.3 g
• Cholesterol: 137 mg
• Sodium: 783 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 57 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2 g
• Total Sugars: 8 g
• Protein: 30 g