HAITIAN MAC N' CHEESE
Haitians use the term "mac and cheese" to refer to a fancy baked pasta dish. You may also hear this dish referred to as "Haitian Macaroni au Gratin" or "Macawoni Gratin."
Significance
The popularity of mac and cheese is universal. When it comes to go-to comfort foods, it's hard to top macaroni and cheese. It doesn't matter if it's prepared from a box or scratch, people will still like this dinner.
This twist on the classic dish has both adult and kid-friendly qualities: it's fancy enough for adults to enjoy but yet has plenty of ooey-gooey charm. What gives Mac & Cheese a distinctive Haitian flavor is the use of added onion, red bell pepper, and other seasonings. This tropical-style baked mac & cheese is simply a baked mac & cheese with more cheese and cream, along with sautéed onions, garlic, bell peppers, and mayonnaise. The top has a unique golden crust.
Because of the peppers, this is a popular spring and summertime side dish, but it is versatile enough to be used whenever a good pasta bake recipe is needed. It's simple to multiply this dish by two or four for larger gatherings or the winter holidays.
Given that it makes a whole casserole, this recipe doesn't make very much. Depending on their dietary needs, this main dish might serve three adults or five to six children. In any case, it's a great accompaniment! When served as a side, it allows more people to try it.
Origin of Mac N Cheese
Although mac & cheese may seem like an exclusively American cuisine, it is not surprising that a cheesy pasta dish has its roots in ancient Italy.
French and an Italian collaborated on a book published in the 13th century under the name Liber de Coquina, which contained a recipe for mac and cheese. Named "de lesanis," this recipe is widely regarded as the earliest written mention of mac & cheese by food historians. Since the ingredients for de Lesanis seemed to be lasagna sheets cut into 2-inch squares, cheese, and seasonings, the meal was likely a spin-off of the Italian classic.
How Haitian Mac N' Cheese Is Prepared?
The gratin de macaroni is quick and easy to prepare, so you'll have this tempting evening delight on the table in no time. While macaroni au gratin can be made with different varieties of pasta, Rigatoni is the preferred choice to go for a classic Haitian dish. If you don't have it, any short pasta shape, such as penne, fusilli, or spiral, would work.
The vegetables are sautéed before being combined with the remaining ingredients to produce a cheese sauce. After combining the pasta with the cheese sauce, an additional layer of cheese is sprinkled on top before the dish is baked until the cheese is melted and golden.
'Tête de Maure' is a popular aged Edam cheese in Haiti. Edam is a semi-hard cheese from the Netherlands, however, gouda is frequently substituted when Edam is unavailable. The presence of mayonnaise is a point of controversy among Haitians. Other cheeses, like as Parmesan, are used in modern variations of this recipe.
Recipe Here :
2 boxes of rigatoni pasta
2 onions
1 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
2 packages of grated cheese. I used mozarella and a mix of Italian 4 cheeses.
1/4 cup flour
cilantro
3 cans of evaporated milk
2 Tbsp butter
Step 1: Boil pasta al dente. Take out pasta and add a little butter. Put aside
Step 2: Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In different pot, sautee chopped onions in a small amount of butter
Step 3: Add flour gradually and stir with a wooden spoon at the same time
Step 4: Add canned milk, cilantro, slices of green and red pepper, and 2 maggi cubes (you can ommit the maggi but it
really gives it flavor) and optional scotch bonnet pepper
Step5: Stir mixture on medium heat until it starts thickening up ~ 10 minutes
Step 6: Set bechamel aside and add the rest of the chopped onions, along with the peppers and ham to the pasta
Step 7: Add cheeses and stir
Step 8: Now add the bechamel sauce to the pasta.
Step 9: Stir with wooden spoon and taste for flavor :) Add extra cheese if needed
Step 10: Grease pan with butter and put the macaroni in oven. Bake until golden ~ about an hour
Check periodically... it might take longer
and Voila!
Once you’ll try this tropical twist of Mac N cheese, you'll beg for more!
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