Southern-Style Macaroni and Cheese

Name: Southern-Style Macaroni and Cheese
Prep time: PT0D0H0M
Cook time: PT0D0H0M
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: 8-10
Ingredients: 1 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste; 8 oz. hollow pasta, preferably elbow macaroni; Butter, for greasing; 7 oz. extra-sharp cheddar, cut into 1⁄2" cubes (about 1 1⁄2 cups), plus 6 oz. grated (about 2 cups); 2 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. flour; 1 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. dry mustard; 1 ⁄ 4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper; 1 ⁄ 4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg; 1 ⁄ 8 tsp. cayenne pepper; 2 ⁄ 3 cup sour cream; 2 eggs, lightly beaten; 1 1 ⁄ 2 cups half-and-half; 1 1 ⁄ 2 cups heavy cream; 1 ⁄ 3 cup grated onion; 1 tsp. Worcestershire

Serves
8-10

ANDRÉ BARANOWSKI

By SAVEUR Editors

Published on January 28, 2011

The recipe for this wonderful regional take on mac and cheese is an adaptation of one in The Gift of Southern Cooking (Knopf, 2003) by Edna Lewis, a Southern culinary legend, and Scott Peacock, the former chef of Atlanta's Watershed restaurant. Two ingredients set this macaroni and cheese apart from the pack: grated onion and Worcestershire sauce.

Ingredients

1 ¹⁄₂ tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
8 oz. hollow pasta, preferably elbow macaroni
Butter, for greasing
7 oz. extra-sharp cheddar, cut into 1⁄2" cubes (about 1 1⁄2 cups), plus 6 oz. grated (about 2 cups)
2 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. flour
1 ¹⁄₂ tsp. dry mustard
¹⁄₄ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
¹⁄₄ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
¹⁄₈ tsp. cayenne pepper
²⁄₃ cup sour cream
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 ¹⁄₂ cups half-and-half
1 ¹⁄₂ cups heavy cream
¹⁄₃ cup grated onion
1 tsp. Worcestershire

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Instructions

Step 1

Heat oven to 350°. Bring a 4-qt. saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until cooked halfway through, about 3 minutes. Drain pasta and transfer to a greased 9" x 13" baking dish. Stir in the cubed cheddar cheese and set aside.

Step 2

Combine 1 1⁄2 tsp. salt, flour, mustard, black pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne in a large mixing bowl. Add the sour cream and the eggs and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half, heavy cream, onions, and Worcestershire. Pour egg mixture over the reserved pasta mixture and stir to combine. Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the surface. Bake until the pasta mixture is set around the edges but still a bit loose in the center, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Heat oven to 350°. Bring a 4-qt. saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until cooked halfway through, about 3 minutes. Drain pasta and transfer to a greased 9" x 13" baking dish. Stir in the cubed cheddar cheese and set aside.
Combine 1 1⁄2 tsp. salt, flour, mustard, black pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne in a large mixing bowl. Add the sour cream and the eggs and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half, heavy cream, onions, and Worcestershire. Pour egg mixture over the reserved pasta mixture and stir to combine. Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the surface. Bake until the pasta mixture is set around the edges but still a bit loose in the center, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.