3 Cheese Velvet Mac & Cheese
Ingredients:
1 lb of your favorite noodle, I used cavatappi
6 tbsp butter 🐄
1/3 cup all purpose flour
3 cups whole milk 🐄
1 cup heavy cream 🐄
* grate cheese fresh off the block *
2 cups white sharp cheddar cheese 🐄
2 cups orange sharp cheddar cheese 🐄
1 cup grated Gruyère cheese 🐄
Fresh cracked black pepper & salt, about 2 tsp/ to taste
3 tbsp melted butter 🐄
1 cup panko crumbs
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese 🐄
1 Tsp paprika
Directions:
1. Boil your noodles until al dente, strain and toss in 1 tbsp olive oil to sit while you prepare your roux. In a large pot, add 6 tbsp of butter and melt over medium high heat until frothy. Whisk in 1/3 cup of flour until combined. Now begin by slowly adding your milk, whisking as you add so it slowly combines, repeat this step with the heavy cream. Continue to sit with a large spoon until the mixture begins to coat the back of the spoon.
2. Reducing heat to medium low, add in your shredded cheese, reserving about 1/4 cup or a handful of each type for assembly, and stir until melted and a cheese sauce forms. Add in your blacked pepper and salt, stir to combine.
3. Add your noodles to the cheese sauce and stir until combined. Transfer half the noodles to a 9x13 baking dish and sprinkle with some reserved grated cheese. Add the other half of the noodles to the dish and top with remaining cheese.
4. In a large sauce pan, melt the remaining 3 tbsp of butter over medium high heat and add your panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese + seasoning, remove once golden brown and toasted.
5. Top Mac and cheese with toasted panko mixture and bake at 350 F for about 30 mins. Serve immediately!