Lighter Mac And Cheese With Tomatoes Recipes

FAMILY-FAVORITE MACARONI AND CHEESE (LIGHTER RECIPE)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Cook macaroni as directed on package.
• While macaroni is cooking, melt margarine in 3-quart saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted.
• Drain macaroni. Gently stir macaroni into cheese sauce. Pour into ungreased 2-quart casserole. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.

LIGHTENED-UP MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 3/4 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta. Add the butter to the empty pot and melt over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add the flour and mustard powder and cook, stirring, until the flour begins to toast, about 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and the reserved cooking water; cook, whisking, until thick, about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium. Whisk in the sour cream, mozzarella, Swiss cheese and 1 tablespoon parmesan; continue whisking until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the pasta, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; transfer to a 2-quart flameproof baking dish. Preheat the broiler. Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons parmesan, the herbs, and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the pasta. Broil until golden and bubbly, about 2 minutes.

LIGHTER MAC AND CHEESE WITH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Cook macaroni in boiling (not salted) water until al dente.
• Drain macaroni, place back in pot and add the sour cream, stir well.
• Add the tomatoes to the noodles and mix.
• Add the cheddar cheese and 2 tablespoons of the parmesan and stir until well mixed.
• Pour noodle mixture into square casserole dish.
• Mix the remaining parmesan and bread crumbs and sprinkle on top of the casserole.
• Bake until bubbly and brown (20-30 minutes) and enjoy!

BAKED MAC AND CHEESE WITH BROILED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Slice tomatoes into thick rounds, drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Broil until tomatoes start to brown, about 8 minutes; let cool slightly. Store, covered, in the refrigerator up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil pasta in a medium pot of boiling salted water until al dente, about 2 minutes less than per package instructions. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup pasta water.
• Return empty pot to medium heat and add butter. When butter melts and foams, add flour and whisk until darkened slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add mustard powder and whisk to combine. Slowly whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and add cheese in 3 batches, starting with American. Follow with 2 cups cheddar and 1 cup Parmesan. Whisk to fully combine after adding each cheese. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Toss pasta with cheese sauce and reserved pasta water. Transfer to an 8-inch baking dish.
• In a bowl, mix panko with melted butter and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan and 1/4 cup cheddar. Top pasta with broiled tomatoes and panko mixture. Bake until bubbly, about 30 minutes.

LIGHTER MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread tomatoes in a single layer on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Drizzle each sheet with 1 tablespoon oil; sprinkle each with 1/2 teaspoon thyme, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until tomatoes have softened, about 20 minutes. (Leave oven on.)
• Process bread in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Melt 1 tablespoon butter with remaining tablespoon oil in amedium skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs, and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta. Cook pasta until almost al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain, and run under cold water to stop cooking. Transfer to a large bowl; set aside.
• Whisk 1/2 cup stock into the flour in a medium bowl; set aside. Melt remaining tablespoon butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in nutmeg, cayenne, remaining 1/2 teaspoon thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add milk and remaining 1 1/2 cups stock. Whisk in flour mixture. Bring to a boil, whisking frequently. Reduce to a simmer. Cook 8 minutes, whisking frequently. Add cheeses; cook, stirring, until melted. Pour over macaroni, stirring to combine.
• Put eight 4 1/2-by-1 1/4-inch ramekins on a baking sheet. Put 2 tomato slices in bottom of each ramekin. Divide macaroni mixture evenly among ramekins. Top each with a tomato slice. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and thyme sprigs. Bake until bubbling and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

LIGHTENED-UP MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Coat an 8x8-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook whole wheat macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Stir 1 tablespoon evaporated milk and tapioca together in a saucepan. Whisk in remaining milk. Stir in Cheddar cheese, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and stir until the sauce thickens a bit and cheese is completely melted. Drain pasta and stir into the sauce. Spoon into the prepared baking dish.
• Cook under the broiler until top browns, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

CHEESE AND TOMATO MACARONI

Steps:

• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain and transfer pasta to a large baking dish.
• Heat vegetable oil and flour in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir until mixture is frothy and smooth, about 5 minutes. Add reserved tomato juice and garlic paste. Cook and stir until mixture is thickened and stir in chopped tomatoes and about 3/4 the Cheddar cheese. Simmer until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes more. Stir water into tomato sauce if mixture becomes too thick.
• Pour tomato sauce over macaroni and top with remaining Cheddar cheese and sliced tomato.
• Broil in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and browned, about 5 minutes.