Rachael Ray's Quick Pumpkin Mac & Cheese
Photography by Kate Mathis
Recipe by Rachael Ray
- Serves 4 as an entrée, or 8 as a side dish or starterServings
Ingredients
Salt
1 lb. macaroni, medium pasta shells, or elbow pasta
4 tbsp. butter
4 tbsp. flour
2 cups whole milk
1 can (14.5 oz.) pure pumpkin
1 tsp. (about 1/3 palmful) granulated garlic
1 tsp. (about 1/3 palmful) dry mustard
1/4 tsp. cayenne
White pepper and a little freshly grated nutmeg (no more than 1/8 tsp. each), to taste
About 3 cups freshly grated yellow cheddar (3/4 lb.)
2 oz. (about 1 cup) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Finely chopped chives, for serving
Preparation
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Salt the water and add the pasta. Cook until 1 to 2 minutes shy of the package directions.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet or medium pot, melt the butter over medium to medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour, then slowly whisk in the milk. Bring to a bubble. Cook, whisking often, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Whisk in the pumpkin. Add the granulated garlic, dry mustard, cayenne, white pepper, and nutmeg; season with salt. Add the cheeses. Stir in a figure eight motion until the cheeses melt into the sauce, a minute or two.
3. Scoop out 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta. Add the pasta to the sauce. Add the cooking water a little at a time if the sauce is too thick. Top with the chives.
