🇭🇹 HAITIAN MACARONI & CHEESE WITH HAM | MAKAWONI AU GRATIN AK JANBON || A TASTE OF K

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Reduced-fat cheese lowers calories while maintaining flavor.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is a healthier fat option.

milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: evaporated milk

Almond milk is a dairy-free alternative.

macaroni

💰Cheaper: elbow pasta

Elbow pasta is a more common and often cheaper option.

Boil water in a pot and add salt.

Add the package of rigatoni pasta to the boiling water and follow the cooking instructions on the package.

In a hot pot, add butter and allow it to melt.

Add diced onions and bell peppers to the melted butter.

Add Epis to the mixture.

Add more butter before adding the diced ham.

Cover the pot with a lid and let the frozen diced ham defrost and warm up for a few minutes.

Set the ham mixture aside.

In the same pot, add butter and flour to make a roux, allowing the flour to cook.

Add spices: onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, ground cloves, and parsley flakes to the roux.

Pour in evaporated milk and stir to combine.

Add about 3/4 of the package of cheddar cheese and half of the package of Colby jack cheese to the mixture and stir until melted.

Combine the ham mixture with the cheese sauce.

Once the pasta is done cooking, drain and set it aside.

Stir the rigatoni into the cheese sauce until well coated.

Spray a baking dish or foil pan with cooking spray before adding the macaroni mixture.

Top the macaroni with the remaining Colby jack cheese.

Place the baking dish in a 350°F oven for 45 minutes.

Allow the Haitian macaroni and cheese to rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens