How To Make Mac & Cheese - Cara Di Falco - Cara's Cucina

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: low-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Low-fat cheese reduces calories while maintaining flavor.

milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: evaporated milk

Almond milk is lower in calories, while evaporated milk is often cheaper.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier, while margarine is often less expensive.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated Romano cheese

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free, while Romano is often cheaper.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Add 1 pound of elbow pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente.

In a pan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.

Once the butter is melted, sift in 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour to create a roux.

Stir the roux until it becomes thick and bubbly.

Slowly add in 1 cup of almond milk, stirring continuously to combine and create a creamy sauce.

Once the sauce is thickened, add in 2 cups of shredded cheese and stir until melted.

Drain the cooked pasta and add it directly to the cheese sauce, reserving some pasta water.

Stir to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency.

Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Optionally, transfer to a baking dish, top with breadcrumbs, and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes until breadcrumbs are crispy.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens