Chef Kurt’s Mac & Cheese

MSU Corporate Chef Kurt Kwiatkowski is sharing his deeee-licious recipe for Mac & Cheese, one of my favorite comfort foods.  Chef suggests you might like add a little bacon, maybe some tomato to the dish for a little extra yum.

The Chef called in Friday morning and gave us another mouth watering, gourmet recipe. Click the play button below to hear the conversation.

Chef Kurt's Old School Mac and Cheese
2 T. olive oil
¼ c. diced shallot or red onion
1 clove of garlic, minced
¾ c. your favorite beer/lager
5 c. heavy cream
2 t. kosher salt
1 t. pepper
2 t. sriracha sauce or your favorite hot sauce
2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 c. gruyere cheese, grated
1 pound of your favorite pasta noodles, cooked
1½ c. mixed panko and breadcrumbs
**5 or 6 pieces of your favorite cooked bacon
**1 c. diced tomato

Heat oil on stove top in stock pot and sauté shallots for 3 minutes, add garlic and sauté for one more minute.

De-glaze with beer, then add cream and reduced. Cook over low heat until reduced to 3 cups.

Season with hot sauce, salt, and pepper.

To this hot mixture add the cooked and drained noodles and grated cheeses, and then mix until cheeses are melted. Taste noodles for seasoning and adjust as needed. Set aside.

**If you were going to add bacon, and/or tomatoes this is when you would stir it in.

Spray individual dishes or one large baking dish and add the noodle/sauce mixture to the dish, top with the Panko topping. Place back in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and toasted on the top.