Italian Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Italian easy twist with step by step pictures of baked macaroni and cheese and a nice gratin. You might like this authentic Italian version so to make a change to your classic Mac and Cheese...

This Italian backed pasta recipe is ideal for cheese lovers and this Italian version is made with Emmentaler, Parmesan and Italian Fontina cheese, but there are countless combinations of cheeses that you can add according to your personal taste.

Baked macaroni and cheese is a dish that tastes nice and it's very attractive that even tots love.

TIP
You can make these Italian macaroni and cheese using other types of pasta such as rigatoni, penne or any other type of short pasta.

Ingredients: serves 6

• 1 ¼ lb (600g) of celentani (tubular curly pasta), macaroni or other short pasta shape
• 3 oz (85g) of butter (2 oz for the recipe 1 oz for the bottom of the pan)
• 8 oz (230g) grated Emmentaler or Gruviera Swiss cheese
• 8 oz (230g) Italian Fontina cheese
• 8 oz (230g) Parmesan cheese (better Italian Parmigiano Reggiano)
• 3 oz (85g) flour
• 1 qt (1 lt) milk
• 1 onion
• pinch of nutmeg
• little extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tbsp (30g) breadcrumbs

Why Should You Buy Italian Pasta?
Macaroni made by Italian pasta maker Martelli's family.
Best Italian gourmet pasta.

Preparation: easy 40 minutes

To make macaroni and cheese first clean and grate all the cheese. Then turn on the oven to 350°F (180°C) and put water to boil for pasta.

1. Then you have to prepare a cream of cheeses, so in a saucepan sauté the onion with the butter.

2. Sauté over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes and then add the flour.

3. Begin to stir and when the mixture begins to brown pour the milk in the same pot, and continue stirring until you get a creamy mixture.

4. After done you can add salt, pepper and nutmeg.

5. Add a part of the grated cheeses keeping aside a tablespoon of each, then stir until all ingredients are mixed. Let it cook for at least 7 minutes.

6. Cook the pasta following the cooking time written on the package, minus a couple of minutes because the pasta must be "al dente", then drain it all.

7. Once drained pour into a bowl, add in a little extra virgin olive oil and stir so that the pasta does not stick together.

8. Now you must butter well a large baking casserole, and you can do this easily with a pastry brush.

9. Cover the base and sides of the casserole with breadcrumbs.

10. Combine the cream of cheeses to the pasta and stir well.

11. Immediately after pour the pasta in the casserole.

12. Sprinkle the top with the spoonfuls of cheeses that you had previously kept aside.

Now the last thing to do is to cook for about half an hour at 350°F (180°C), or until the surface has acquired a golden color and the classic crust is formed. Once ready, remove the casserole from the oven and serve these Italian baked macaroni and cheese piping hot.