Greek Mac and Cheese

Name: Greek Mac and Cheese
Prep time: PT0D0H0M
Cook time: PT0D0H0M
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: 8-10
Ingredients: 3 slices crustless white bread, torn into small pieces; 9 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted; Kosher salt, to taste; 8 oz. hollow pasta, preferably elbow macaroni; 1 ⁄ 4 cup flour; 3 cups milk; 4 cups grated graviera or kefalotyri cheese (about 12 oz.); 3 ⁄ 4 tsp. ground cinnamon; 1 ⁄ 8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg; Freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil; 8 large shallots, finely chopped; 16 oz. baby spinach, roughly chopped; 8 scallions cut into 1/4"-thick rounds; 1 ⁄ 3 cup roughly chopped fresh dill; 1 3 ⁄ 4 cups crumbled feta (about 8 oz.)

Serves
8-10

TODD COLEMAN

By SAVEUR Editors

Published on January 13, 2014

Studded with spinach, topped with feta cheese, and infused with a hint of cinnamon, this savory casserole is based on a recipe from New York City chef Michael Psilakis. Read more about macaroni and cheese in our May 2010 story Elbow Room.

Ingredients

3 slices crustless white bread, torn into small pieces
9 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
Kosher salt, to taste
8 oz. hollow pasta, preferably elbow macaroni
¹⁄₄ cup flour
3 cups milk
4 cups grated graviera or kefalotyri cheese (about 12 oz.)
³⁄₄ tsp. ground cinnamon
¹⁄₈ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
8 large shallots, finely chopped
16 oz. baby spinach, roughly chopped
8 scallions cut into 1/4"-thick rounds
¹⁄₃ cup roughly chopped fresh dill
1 ³⁄₄ cups crumbled feta (about 8 oz.)

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Instructions

Step 1

Put bread into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Put bread crumbs and 3 tbsp. butter into a small bowl and combine; set aside. Bring a 6-qt. pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until cooked halfway through, about 3 minutes. Drain pasta, rinse with cold water, and set aside.

Step 2

Heat remaining butter in a 4-qt. saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Still whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in milk and cook until sauce has thickened and coats the back of a spoon, 10–15 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Stir in graviera, cinnamon, and nutmeg and season with salt and pepper; set béchamel sauce aside.

Step 3

Heat oven to 350°. Heat oil in a 5-qt. pot over medium heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring often, until soft, 3–4 minutes. Add spinach and scallions and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 3 minutes. Stir in the reserved béchamel sauce, the dill, and the reserved pasta and transfer mixture to a 9" x 13" baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with reserved bread crumbs and the feta. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Put bread into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Put bread crumbs and 3 tbsp. butter into a small bowl and combine; set aside. Bring a 6-qt. pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until cooked halfway through, about 3 minutes. Drain pasta, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
Heat remaining butter in a 4-qt. saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Still whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in milk and cook until sauce has thickened and coats the back of a spoon, 10–15 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Stir in graviera, cinnamon, and nutmeg and season with salt and pepper; set béchamel sauce aside.
Heat oven to 350°. Heat oil in a 5-qt. pot over medium heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring often, until soft, 3–4 minutes. Add spinach and scallions and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 3 minutes. Stir in the reserved béchamel sauce, the dill, and the reserved pasta and transfer mixture to a 9" x 13" baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with reserved bread crumbs and the feta. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.