Mac & Cheese with Soubise

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• kosher salt
• 1 shallot, roughly chopped
• 3 tablespoons all- purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons sherry
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 to 2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 6- 7 gratings nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, optional
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
• 12 ounces macaroni, penne or cellentani
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 pound Comte, or a combination of these, grated
• 1/4 cup Parmesan- Reggiano cheese, grated, tossed with 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

1. Melt half the butter in a medium pan over medium heat and add the onions and a four-fingered pinch of salt.
2. Cook, stirring until the onions is nicely caramelized.
3. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the remaining butter.
4. Add the shallot and a three-finger pinch of salt and cook until some of the water has cooked out of the butter, about 1 minute.
5. Add the flour, stir to mix it with the butter, and cook until the mixture has taken on a toasted aroma, a few minutes.
6. Gradually whisk in the milk and stir with a flat-edged wood spoon or spatula, to make sure the flour doesnt stick to the bottom of the pan, until the sauce comes up to a simmer and thickens, a few minutes more.
7. Stir in a three-finger pinch of salt, the white wine vinegar, sherry, fish sauce, dry mustard, black pepper, nutmeg, cayenne, and smoked paprika (if using).
8. Add the onion to the sauce and stir until heated through.
9. Transfer the sauce to a blender and process until pureed, or puree in the pan with a hand blender.
10. Keep the sauce warm over low heat.
11. You should have about 2 cups/480 ml.

butter, onion, kosher salt, shallot, flour, milk, white wine vinegar, sherry, fish sauce, mustard, freshly ground black pepper, gratings nutmeg, cayenne, paprika, macaroni, butter, comte, cheese, bread crumbs

Taken from www.foodrepublic.com/recipes/mac-cheese-with-soubise-recipe/ (may not work)