Yield: 6-8 servings
Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence
Kosher salt
1 pound elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups warm milk
5 1/2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
extra virgin olive oil
4 slices bacon, cut crosswise into thin strips
1 large onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, smashed
leaves from ¼ bunch fresh thyme
2 cups frozen peas, thawed in a colander under cool water
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook for 8 to 9 minutes, until al dente. Drain.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Melt the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, to keep lumps form forming. Gradually whisk in the milk and, whisking vigorously, cook until the mixture is thick and smooth.
Stir in the 4 cups of the cheese and continue to cook and stir to melt the cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the cooked macaroni and the parsley and fold that all in to coat the macaroni with the cheese mixture. Scrape into a 3-quart baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining 1 ½ cups cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
While thats going, heat a 2 count of olive oil in a sauté pan. Add the bacon, onion, garlic and thyme and cook for about 5 minutes to soften the onion. Fold in the peas and season with salt and pepper.
To serve, scatter the pea and bacon mixture over the mac and cheese. Use a big spoon to scoop out servings, making sure you get some of the smoking pea mixture on each spoonful.
Tyler
OKOKOK! I give…ThePamKoo concedes this mac&cheese is the best…You were right…
No more Stouffers. I will make this ahead and freeze it. It DOES freeze well, I presume?
Best –
ThePamKoo
Tyler’s Mac N Cheese looks so good, it brings tears to my eyes.
Outstanding job, Tyler. I’m trying this one this weekend with my daughter!
This dish was something I craved throughout my pregnancy! Love the combination of all three together!
It definately was something. I had to make it tonight and it was excellent!
I made this last night and it tastes even better today…I had it for breakfast…yummy!
What did you think about the peas? I’m doing canned peas next time.
By the photos it looks like a step is missing: By the photo it appears that after folding in the peas the skillet was placed in the oven to brown. Right?
Hi Bob,
thanks for your question…. I’m Anthony, Tyler’s sous chef.
The peas/bacon mixture is cooked in a separate skillet to the mac n cheese (i.e. there are 2 skillets used in this recipe).
So while the mac n cheese is browning in the oven you saute the bacon/peas in a separate skillet and then pour this mixture on top of the baked mac n cheese when it comes out of the oven.
Thanks for everything, Anthony!
My name is Dean Exas. We met Anthony around the firepit @ Music to your Mouth in Palmetto Bluff. My wife and I are looking to go to NY and take my daughter and boyfriend to dinner after the holidays and would like to visit Anthony while he is at one of the restaraunts. Where can I get ahold of him to see if this can happen.
I would be most appreciative if you could have him email me.
Thanx
Dean