Gooey Four-Cheese Mac and Cheese

foodandwine.com

By Food & Wine

This decadent macaroni and cheese recipe includes cheddar, Muenster, Swiss and a touch of cream cheese for extra richness. Delicious Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Four-Cheese Mac and Cheese
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 quart whole milk
1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
1/8 teaspoon ground mace
3 tablespoons Tabasco
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
10 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (3 cups)
4 ounces Muenster cheese, shredded (1 1/4 cups)
2 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded (3/4 cup)
1/4 cup cream cheese
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Butter, for the dish
1 pound medium pasta shells

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large saucepan, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat until translucent, 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in the flour to make a paste. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Bring to a simmer, whisking, until the sauce thickens. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, whisking often, until no floury taste remains, 7 minutes. Add the celery seeds, mace, Tabasco and cayenne. Stir in the cheeses just until they melt. Remove from the heat and season the sauce with salt and pepper.
2. Butter a large, shallow baking dish. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta shells until almost al dente, about 4 minutes. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Stir in the cheese sauce until thoroughly combined. Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish and let stand for 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°. Bake the pasta in the upper third of the oven for 25 minutes, until it's bubbling and starting to brown. Turn the broiler on and broil the pasta for about 1 minute, until it's browned and crisp on top. Let the mac and cheese rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Make Ahead The cheese sauce can be refrigerated overnight and reheated gently; add more milk if it is too thick.

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