Trinidadian Macaroni Pie Food

TRINIDADIAN MACARONI PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Cook the macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and cool.
• Fry the bacon in the oil until all the fat has rendered, then remove from the pan, retaining the fat. Mix the topping ingredients with the fat, breadcrumbs last. Finely chop the bacon.
• Mince the onion in a food processor with a little evaporated milk. Mix in the eggs and the rest of the milk, and season. Combine with the macaroni.
• Stir in the bacon, chillies and most of the cheese.
• Pour it all into a large, greased oven dish. Sprinkle the leftover cheese on top, then the topping. Bake for 30-40 minutes, then rest for at least 20 more, or overnight to serve cold the next day.

TRINIDADIAN MACARONI PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch (3-quart) baking dish with butter.
• In a large bowl, mix the Cheddar and mozzarella, and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk the evaporated milk, egg, tomato paste, garlic and onion powders, mustard, thyme, Scotch bonnet pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and a generous pinch of black pepper until very well blended.
• Cook macaroni in boiling salted water according to the package directions for al dente. Drain and return to the pot. Stir in the tablespoon of butter until melted, then add half the cheese and stir until it's fully combined and starting to melt. Stir in the milk mixture until the pasta is evenly coated. Pour the pasta into the buttered dish, spread it evenly and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.
• Bake until the top is bubbling and golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let rest for at least 10 minutes to help it firm up. The dish can be made up to a day in advance, tightly covered with foil or plastic wrap, and refrigerated, or cut into serving sizes, wrapped tightly and frozen. Reheat covered with foil in a 350-degree oven or in a covered skillet on the stove.