Mighty Mac N Cheese With Chicken Leeks Recipes

MAC AND CHEESE WITH LEEKS AND GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a large pot of boiling salted water cook the pasta until al dente, drain and set aside.
• In a skillet over medium heat melt 2 tablespoons of butter and oil and cook the leeks until tender but not browned. In a bowl combine the cooked leeks with the Bechamel Sauce, Gorgonzola, Asiago, thyme, oregano, and parsley. Toss the sauce with the pasta until well coated and season, to taste.
• Grease a 9-inch springform pan with the remaining butter. Fill the springform pan with the pasta mixture and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 40 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before removing from the pan and slicing.
• In a heavy bottomed pot over medium heat, melt the butter and saute the garlic for 2 minutes until fragrant, but not brown. Remove the garlic and discard. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the flour to make a roux, cook for 4 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
• Heat the milk to just below boiling. Pour 1 cup of milk into the roux, whisking constantly as the sauce thickens. Add the rest of the milk, in 1/2 cup portions, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Simmer the sauce over low heat for 8 minutes, stirring the bottom of the pot with a spatula to prevent burning. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheese, kosher salt and nutmeg to finish the sauce.

LEEK MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet.
• Add the leek greens and cook over high heat, stirring just until slightly wilted, 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Cook over low heat until very tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.
• Add the flour and cook over moderately high heat, whisking, for 2 minutes. Add the half-and-half and bring to a boil, whisking until thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat.
• Add 2 cups of the cheese, season with salt and pepper and whisk the cheese sauce until melted.
• In a large saucepan of salted boiling water, cook the macaroni until nearly al dente.
• Drain well.
• Add the macaroni and the cheese sauce to the leek greens and stir until combined.
• Transfer the macaroni to an 8-by-11-inch baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.
• Bake for about 40 minutes, until bubbling.
• Turn the broiler on and broil the mac and cheese until golden brown on top, about 3 minutes.
• Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

BACON, LEEK, AND TOMATO MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in an 8-quart stockpot.
• Meanwhile, place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain bacon on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add macaroni, Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to the boiling water. Cover and let simmer vigorously for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• While the macaroni mixture cooks, trim dark green parts off leek and discard. Slice leek in half lengthwise, then crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Place in a bowl of cold water and swish to remove dirt. Drain leek and stir into the macaroni mixture.
• Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until macaroni is tender and sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut tomatoes in half lengthwise. Remove cores and scrape out seeds. Dice tomatoes; reserve 1/4 cup for garnish. Remove stockpot from heat; stir in remaining tomatoes and 1/2 of the bacon. Spoon macaroni into a serving bowl and garnish with remaining bacon and reserved tomatoes. Serve immediately.

CREAMY CHICKEN & LEEK BAKE

Steps:

• Cook rice as directed on package, omitting salt and substituting chicken broth for the water.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken; cook 5 min. or until evenly browned, stirring frequently. Spoon chicken into large bowl. Add leeks to skillet; cook and stir 3 min. or until crisp-tender. Remove from heat. Add to chicken along with the corn, beans and Worcestershire sauce; mix lightly.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Add cream cheese spread to rice; stir until completely melted.
• Spoon into 2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray; top with chicken mixture. Cover.
• Bake 15 min. or until heated through. Top with shredded cheese; bake, uncovered, 5 min. or until melted.

CHEESY LEEKS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the leeks into a steamer basket and steam for 6-8 mins until bright green and just becoming tender.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter and flour together in a saucepan, stirring until you have a thick paste. Add the milk, a splash at a time, stirring continuously until all the milk has been added. Cook for 2-3 mins more until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Stir in most of the Yeo valley Organic mature cheddar, the mustard and some seasoning.
• Fold the steamed leeks into the cheese sauce, then tip everything into an ovenproof baking dish. Scatter over the breadcrumbs, thyme and remaining cheese, then bake for 20 mins until golden, crisp on top and bubbling at the edges. Leave to stand for 5 mins before serving.

MIGHTY MAC 'N' CHEESE WITH CHICKEN & LEEKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
• Toss the chicken, leeks, and oil together on a baking tray. Cook for 20 mins until the chicken done through.
• Cook the pasta to the pack instructions and drain.
• Mix 2tbsp of the milk with the cornflour. Melt the butter in a pan, add the rest of the milk, and bring to the boil. Whisk in the cornflour mix and cook for 2 mins to thicken. Take off the heat, add the cheeses and cayenne and season with black pepper. Let the cheese melt, then stir to combine.
• Toss the macaroni and cheese sauce through the chicken and leeks, sprinkle on the breadcrumbs and thyme and bake for 15 mins, until golden and bubbling.