Macaroni and Cheese Carbonara Recipe ๐ง๐ฅ
Overview:
- Preparation Time: 30 minutes
- Cooking Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 10
- Calories per Serving: 714.4
- Rating: โญโญโญโญโญ
Description:
Indulge in the richness of this creamy Macaroni and Cheese Carbonara, a comforting blockbuster dish that combines the irresistible flavors of cheese and bacon. Each bite is a delightful contrast of creamy pasta and crispy breadcrumbs, making it a perfect one-dish meal for any occasion.
Ingredients:
- 3 1/4 cups elbow macaroni
- 12 slices bacon
- 3 cups Parmesan cheese (divided)
- 1 bunch fresh Italian parsley
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3 egg yolks
- 6 cups Fontina cheese (divided)
- 1 1/2 cups peas
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions:
-
Preheat Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC) to ensure it’s ready for baking later on.
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Prepare Baking Dish:
- Butter a 13x9x2-inch baking dish generously to prevent sticking.
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Cook Macaroni:
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the elbow macaroni until it’s just tender but still firm to the bite. This usually takes around 10 minutes.
- Once cooked, drain the macaroni, rinse it, and drain it again thoroughly.
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Cook Bacon:
- In a large heavy pot over medium heat, cook the bacon until it becomes crisp and golden brown. This typically takes about 10 minutes.
- Transfer the cooked bacon along with 1/4 cup of the pan drippings to a large bowl.
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Prepare Breadcrumb Mixture:
- To the bowl with the bacon, add the breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, and 1/4 cup of chopped parsley.
- Toss these ingredients together until they are evenly mixed.
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Prepare Cheese Sauce:
- In the same pot used to cook the bacon, add the minced garlic to the remaining pan drippings and sautรฉ it over medium heat until it becomes fragrant, which should take about 30 seconds.
- Next, add the all-purpose flour to the pot and whisk continuously for about 3 minutes to create a roux.
- Gradually pour in the whole milk while whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
- Add the egg yolks, salt, and black pepper to the mixture and continue cooking until it thickens, which usually takes around 12 minutes.
- Once thickened, add 2 cups of Fontina cheese and the remaining 3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese to the sauce. Whisk until the cheese melts completely.
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Combine Ingredients:
- Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the remaining 1 1/2 cups of Fontina cheese, along with the peas and cooked macaroni.
- Ensure that the cheese sauce coats all the ingredients evenly.
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Assemble and Bake:
- Pour the macaroni mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the macaroni mixture.
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the breadcrumb topping turns golden brown and crispy.
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Serve:
- Once baked, remove the dish from the oven and let it stand for about 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve your delicious Macaroni and Cheese Carbonara hot and enjoy the creamy, cheesy goodness!
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):
- Calories: 714.4
- Fat: 36.7g
- Saturated Fat: 17.3g
- Cholesterol: 211.7mg
- Sodium: 1355.1mg
- Carbohydrates: 61.6g
- Fiber: 3.5g
- Sugar: 12.1g
- Protein: 33.1g
Tips:
- For added flavor, try using smoked bacon or pancetta instead of regular bacon.
- Feel free to customize the cheese blend by incorporating your favorite cheeses, such as cheddar or Gruyรจre, to create your unique twist on this classic dish.
- To make this dish vegetarian-friendly, omit the bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for added flavor in the cheese sauce.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply reheat in the microwave or oven before serving.
