Pimento Macaroni Food

PIMENTO MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325F and lightly butter a 10 inch cast iron skillet.
• Cook the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a medium heavy bottomed saucepan and whisk in the flour, paprika, and salt. Cook for a couple of minutes over medium heat, whisking constantly.
• While whisking, add the milk and cream slowly to avoid lumps. Whisk or stir with a silicone spoonula until all the milk and cream are incorporated. Keep cooking, stirring constantly, until the mixture ALMOST comes to a boil, and thickens. Do not let it boil.
• Remove the pan from the heat (this is important) and let it cool for a minute or two.
• Add the shredded cheese to the pot, stirring until the cheese has completely melted. This may take a few minutes. If necessary you can put the pot back on the stove to gently heat until the cheese melts.
• Stir in the pimentos and cooked pasta and turn into your buttered skillet.
• Mix the cracker crumbs with the melted butter until the crumbs are evenly saturated.
• Top with the crumb mixture, and bake for about 25 minutes, or until bubbling and golden.

PIMENTO MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with butter. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water and drain again.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the panko and cook, stirring often, until golden and toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Immediately remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Melt remaining 8 tablespoons butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic and jalapeño and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add flour and paprika, stir well, and cook until vegetables are coated, about 1 minute.
• While whisking, carefully stream in the milk until smooth and incorporated. Bring to a simmer while continuing to whisk. Simmer, whisking often, until thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add the Cheddar cheese, cream cheese and pimentos, and stir until the cheese is completely melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Add cooked pasta and stir to coat. Transfer to the baking dish and spread evenly. Evenly sprinkle the toasted panko on top. Bake until golden and bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then serve.

PIMIENTO CHEESY MAC

Steps:

• Bring a large sauce pot of water to a boil. Salt the water, add the pasta and cook to al dente.
• Meanwhile, in another sauce pot, melt the butter over medium heat, add the garlic and onions and saute until translucent and fragrant. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute more. Whisk the milk into the sauce and heat until thickened. Season with the paprika, dry mustard and black pepper, to taste. Melt in the cheese. Drain the pasta, and add it to the sauce along with the pimientos. Serve immediately or transfer it to a shallow dish and brown under the hot broiler for a crunchy top.

PIMIENTO MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs; drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, mushrooms and 2 teaspoons thyme. Cook, tossing occasionally, until tender and beginning to brown, 10 to 12 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the flour to coat the vegetables; cook 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and milk and bring to a boil, stirring, until the mixture is thick and creamy, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tuna and 1/2 cup pimiento cheese; stir until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes. Stir in the pasta until combined; season with salt and pepper.
• Dollop the remaining 1/2 cup pimiento cheese on the pasta mixture and broil until the cheese is melted and browned in spots, 1 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the cracker crumbs and remaining 1 teaspoon thyme and broil until the crackers begin to brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Let cool 10 minutes.

FRIED PIMENTO MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on at least 2 sides.
• Put the milk and macaroni in a medium saucepan. Bring the milk to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to keep the macaroni from clumping. Continue to boil, stirring frequently, until the macaroni is tender and the milk has thickened to the consistency of heavy cream, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the Cheddar, mozzarella, cream cheese, pimentos, sour cream, hot sauce, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and stir until smooth, thick and creamy. Spread into the prepared baking dish and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Use the parchment overhang to lift the macaroni in a block from the dish. Cut into 2-inch squares, transfer to a baking sheet and freeze until completely firm, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, fill a large, heavy-bottomed pot with 2 inches of oil and heat until a deep-frying thermometer registers 375 degrees F. Fry the mac and cheese squares in batches until golden brown on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside, 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve warm with more hot sauce drizzled over top.

PIMENTO CHEESE MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted boiling water to a rolling boil. Add the macaroni and cook until al dente, about 1 minute less than package directions suggest.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, mayonnaise, pimento peppers, Cheddar, chives, smoked paprika, garlic, hot sauce and a pinch of salt and black pepper together until thoroughly combined.
• Transfer the cooked macaroni directly to the large bowl with the cheese mixture and mix until everything is thoroughly combined. Fold in the red bell pepper and garnish with more smoked paprika. Serve immediately or chill in the fridge until ready to serve.