Description
Ina Garten’s truffle mac and cheese elevates classic comfort with luxurious ingredients like gruyère and white truffle oil. Creamy pasta promises a rich, indulgent experience that brings gourmet elegance to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) cavatappi pasta
- 4 cups (946 ml) whole milk
- 4 cups (340 g) grated Gruyère cheese
- 3 cups (226 g) grated extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese
- 0.5 lb (227 g) shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps sliced 0.5 inch thick
- 0.5 lb (227 g) cremini mushrooms, stems removed, caps sliced 0.5 inch thick
- 3 oz (85 g) white truffle butter
- 0.5 cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 0.25 cup (60 ml) cream sherry
- 1.5 cups (180 g) diced white bread, crusts removed
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 3 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
- 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Mushroom Preparation: Sauté shiitake and cremini mushrooms in butter and olive oil until tender, then deglaze with cream sherry. Set aside the aromatic mixture.
- Pasta Cooking: Boil cavatappi in salted water until al dente, then drain completely and reserve.
- Cheese Sauce Development: Create a smooth roux with truffle butter and flour, gradually incorporating scalded milk. Whisk until thickened, then remove from heat and blend in Gruyère, Cheddar, salt, pepper, and nutmeg for a luxurious sauce.
- Pasta and Mushroom Integration: Fold cooked pasta into the cheese sauce, mixing in two-thirds of the prepared mushrooms. Transfer the creamy mixture to a 10 × 13 × 2-inch baking dish.
- Breadcrumb Topping: Pulse white bread, garlic, and parsley in a food processor to create fine herbed crumbs. Sprinkle generously over the pasta, and distribute remaining sautéed mushrooms across the surface.
- Baking Process: Slide the dish into a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven. Bake for 35-45 minutes until the sauce bubbles and breadcrumbs turn golden brown.
- Serving Preparation: Rest the mac and cheese for 5 minutes after removing from the oven, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to slightly thicken. Serve immediately for optimal enjoyment.
Notes
- Mushroom Selection: Choose fresh, high-quality shiitake and cremini mushrooms for maximum flavor depth and rich umami taste.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Remove cheese sauce from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess and ensure smooth, creamy texture.
- Breadcrumb Pro Tip: Toast breadcrumbs in a skillet beforehand for extra crunch and deeper golden-brown color.
- Temperature Precision: Let mac and cheese rest 5 minutes after baking to allow sauce to set and flavors to meld perfectly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg