Mac and Cheese with Whole Wheat Pasta and Smoked Cheddar
- 1 pound whole wheat penne rigate
- 6 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
- 4 1/2 cups whole milk
- 8 ounces smoked cheddar cheese, coarsely grated (3 cups)
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely grated (3 cups)
- Pinch of cayenne
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup panko
- Preheat the oven to 375.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the pasta and cook until al dente.
- Drain and return the pasta to the pot.
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt 4 1/2 tablespoons of the butter.
- Whisk in the flour and cook over moderate heat, whisking constantly, until smooth, about 1 minute.
- Add the milk and whisk over high heat until the mixture comes to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to moderate and simmer, whisking, until thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the cheeses until smooth.
- Season the cheese sauce with cayenne, salt and black pepper.
- Fold the pasta into the cheese sauce and scrape the mixture into a large glass or ceramic baking dish.
- In a medium heatproof bowl, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the microwave.
- Stir in the panko and season with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle the panko over pasta.
- Bake for about 40 minutes, until the top is golden and the sauce is bubbly.
- Preheat the broiler.
- Broil the mac and cheese 4 inches from the heat for about 2 minutes, until the top is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
whole wheat penne rigate, unsalted butter, flour, milk, cheddar cheese, cheddar cheese, cayenne, kosher salt
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/mac-and-cheese-with-whole-wheat-pasta-and-smoked-cheddar (may not work)