Macaroni and Cheese. It's one of America's classic comfort foods, and comes in more varieties than I can count. And sometimes it's the subtle differences—whole grain or Dijon mustard, sour cream or Crème fraîche, sharp cheddar or mild cheddar, fusilli or penne—that make the biggest difference. You see the dilemma. But the solution, it turns out, is pretty easy: try them all. Only through the detailed (and delicious) trial and error method will I discover what I'm truly looking for in this dish. So let the games begin.
I made a Mac and Cheese version last fall with one of my favorite vegetables, cauliflower, and though it was perfectly acceptable, it wasn't entirely spot on. Too tangy, slightly expensive, and (gasp!), I'm not sure Mac and Cheese is the best place for cauliflower. I knew there were more recipes to try. Let me introduce you to the current front runner, Baked Ziti with Roasted Tomatoes. This is absolutely, stick-to-your-ribs creamy, and the freshness of the tomatoes balances well with the cheese and soft noodles.
Baked Ziti with Roasted Tomatoes
Adapted from Martha Stewart Living
Recipe notes: Instead of measuring the cheese, I grated a heaping cup or so of each variety. For the breadcrumbs, I pulsed three slices of sandwich bread (crust and all) with about a cup of Italian-style breadcrumbs, then added melted butter (two tablespoons) and streamed in olive oil until the mixture was coated.
Ingredients
FOR PASTA
Coarse salt
pound pasta
FOR BREAD CRUMBS
3 slices sandwich bread
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Olive oil
FOR SAUCE AND CHEESE TOPPING
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for baking dishes
1/4 cup finely diced yellow onion
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
2 ounces Italian fontina cheese, grated (1/2 cup)
3 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated (1 cup), 1/3 cup reserved for topping
6 ounces extra-sharp white-cheddar cheese, grated (2 cups), 1/3 cup reserved for topping
2 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated (1 cup), 1/2 cup reserved for topping
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
FOR TOPPING
Slow-Roasted Tomato Slices (recipe below)
Thyme sprigs
Directions
1. Heat oven and boil pasta: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add salt generously and cook pasta 2 to 3 minutes less than manufacturer's instructions (the outside should be cooked but the inside underdone. Transfer to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well.
2. Meanwhile, make bread crumbs: Tear bread into large pieces and pulse a few times in a food processor to form very large crumbs. Transfer to a bowl, and add melted butter. Toss evenly to coat.
3. Prepare baking dishes: Butter eight 6-ounce shallow baking dishes or one 1 1/2-quart baking dish.
4. Make cheese sauce: Melt butter in a 4-quart pot over medium heat, add onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until bubbling but not browning, about 45 seconds. Add milk and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer, stirring with a wooden spoon (scrape across the bottom and around edge of pot to prevent scorching), until thickened, about 4 minutes. Add fontina, 2/3 cup grated Gruyere, 1 2/3 cups grated cheddar, and 1/2 cup Parmigianno-Reggiano, stirring until completely melted and sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper, add cayenne and nutmeg, and stir to combine.
5. Assemble and add cheese topping: Add pasta to sauce and stir to thoroughly combine. Pour into prepared baking dishes and sprinkle evenly with the reserved cheeses, followed by the bread crumbs. If using, top with roasted tomato slices and thyme.
6. Bake: Place dishes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until bubbling and cheese is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
Slow-Roasted Tomato Slices
Ingredients
6 small tomatoes, sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place tomato slices on rimmed baking sheets in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil; season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with thyme leaves. Transfer to oven and roast until softened and browned in spots, about 20 minutes.
