Three-Cheese Mac & Cheese

INGREDIENTS

8 oz (250 g) uncooked orecchiette pasta

1/4 cup (50 mL) butter (1/2 stick), melted

1/4 cup (50 mL) all-purpose flour

2   garlic cloves, pressed

2 1/2 cups (625 mL) 2% milk

1 tsp (5 mL) dry mustard

1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt

1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) coarsely ground black pepper

4 oz (125 g) sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded

4 oz (125 g) Gruyère cheese, shredded

2 oz (60 g) fontina cheese, shredded

1 tbsp (15 mL) chopped fresh chives

1 cup (250 mL) cheese and garlic croutons

DIRECTIONS

1

Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside. Meanwhile, combine butter, flour and garlic pressed withGarlic Press in (2-qt./1.9-L) Saucepan; whisk until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat 2-3 minutes, whisking occasionally. Slowly add milk to flour mixture, whisking constantly until smooth. Add mustard, salt and black pepper. Simmer 8-11 minutes or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally. Add cheeses, one at a time, whisking constantly until sauce is smooth. Stir in chives. Remove Saucepan from heat.

2

Meanwhile, coarsely chop croutons using Food Chopper. Add cooked pasta toRound Covered Baker. Carefully pour sauce over pasta; mix well and top with croutons. Bake, uncovered, 15-20 minutes or until sauce is bubbling and croutons are golden brown. Remove baker from oven. Let stand, covered, 10 minutes before serving.

Yield:

  ,
4 servings of  

Nutrients per serving:

Calories 790, Total Fat 41 g, Saturated Fat 22 g, Cholesterol 120 mg, Carbohydrate 70 g, Protein 36 g, Sodium 1020 mg, Fiber 2 g

U.S. Diabetic exchanges per serving: No information is currently available.

Cook's Tips:

The cheeses in this recipe give it a special spin. Fontina is a semifirm, creamy Italian cheese with a mild, nutty flavor. Gruyère is a Swiss cheese with a rich, sweet, nutty flavor. White cheddar, the most familiar of the three, has a sharp flavor that provides contrast to the other two varieties.

Other types of pasta, such as elbow, can be substituted for the orecchiette pasta, if desired.