Crackalackin Mac and Cheese
Just when you think you've had the ultimate Mac and Cheese.... along comes this recipe
Crackalackin' Mac and Cheese
Mr Coast n Smoke
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users
Category
Main
Cuisine
American
Author:
Mr Coast n Smoke
Servings
8
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
This ain't no drill...this is the ultimate Mac and Cheese, not for the faint hearted but definitely a crowd pleaser. If you choose to use this as a "side" then you could reduce the quantity, otherwise its a main by itself!
Ingredients
Mac and Cheese
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500g Macaroni or elbow pasta
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½ cup unsalted butter
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½ cup All purpose (plain) flour
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2 ¾ cup milk
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1 ¼ cup pouring cream
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4 cups grated tasty cheddar cheese
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2 cups Comte cheese
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2 Tsp salt
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½ Tsp Black pepper
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250g Streaky bacon (diced) or left-over burnt ends
Topping
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1 cup plain crisps crumbled or panko crumbs
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2 Tbs butter
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3 tsp (or to taste) Coast n Smoke South West Rub
Directions
Preheat oven or BBQ/smoker to 160C or 325F and grease a baking dish (230 x 300mm). Set aside
If using streaky bacon, heat frying pan, add oil and diced bacon and cook until crispy. Set aside on some paper towel.
If using leftover burnt ends, ensure they are defrosted if frozen.
Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Once water is boiling, add pasta and cook until al dente. Do not overcook.
Grate the cheese while the pasta is cooking and toss to combine both cheeses. Divide the cheese into 3 approximate piles (3 cups for the sauce, 1.5 cups for inner layer and 1.5 cups for topping).
Drain the pasta and drizzle with a little olive oil to keep it rom sticking together.
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine. Mixture will look like wet sand. Cook for approximately 1 minute, stirring often.
Slowly pour in about ½ the milk and cream, whisk constantly until smooth. Slowly pour the remaining milk and cream, whisk constantly, until combined and smooth.
Continue to whisk over a medium heat until thickened. Add in the bacon or burnt ends.
Remove from the heat add 1.5 cups of the cheeses and stir to melt and combine, then add another 1.5 cups of the cheeses and stir until completely smooth.
Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta in the pot and mix til the pasta is evenly coated.
Pour half of the pasta into the prepared baking dish, then add a layer of cheese (approx. 1.5 cups of cheese). Then top with the remaining pasta.
Add the remaining cheese to the top of the pasta.
For the topping, melt the butter and mix in with the crumbled chips or panko. Add Coast n Smoke South West Rub and mix til evenly combined. Spread mixture over the top of the Mac and Cheese and bake at 180C for 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden brown.
