UrbanKitchen: Apple Beer Mac And Cheese

This easy gourmet macaroni and cheese is a favourite! The sweetness of the apples and addition of the sharp beer really add a new dimension. You can fancy it up even further by adding your morning’s leftover bacon!

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: about 30 minutes
Baking time: 45 minutes
Yield: 6 to 8 servings

¼ cup (60mL) unsalted butter

¼ cup (60 mL) all-purpose flour

1 bay leaf

3 cups (750 mL) milk

½ cup (125 mL) crème fraiche

½ (125 mL) strong IPA beer (7%)

2 tbsp (30 mL) Dijon mustard

1 ½ tsp (7 mL) salt

¼ tsp (1 mL) freshly grated nutmeg

Pasta Apple Cheese Layer:

3 cups 9750 mL) mini lumaconi or elbow pasta

1 tbsp (15 mL) unsalted butter

3 cups (750 mL) peeled and grated Golden Delicious apples (about 3 large)

¾ cup (175 mL) Panko breadcrumbs, toasted

1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil

2 cups (500 mL) lightly packed shredded Black River Medium Cheddar cheese

1 cup (250 mL) lightly packed shredded Canadian Muenster cheese

1 cup (250 mL) lightly packed shredded Gunn’s Hill Five Brothers cheese

1 cup (250 mL) lightly packed shredded Sylvan Star Canadian Smoked Gouda cheese

1 cup (250 mL) lightly packed shredded Canadian Raclette cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F (180˚C).
2. In large pot, melt butter on medium-high heat. Add flour and bay leaf and whisk until smooth; cook for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Whish in milk in a slow steady stream. Whisk until smooth; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking constantly, until thick enough to coat spoon, about 8 to 12 minutes. Turn off heat. Whish crème fraiche, beer, mustard, salt and nutmeg. Remove and discard bay leaf.
3. Pasta Apple Cheese Layer: In large pot of boiling, salted water, cook pasta 3 minutes under the package directions. Drain and rinse lightly. Set aside.
4. Meanwhile, in medium skillet, melt butter on medium heat. Add apples and any accumulated juices; sauté until soft, about 2 minutes. In small bowl. Combine breadcrumbs and oil; set aside.
5. Spread one-half of the pasta in 13×9-inch (3 L) glass baking dish. Pour one half of the sauce, top with one-half each of the Cheddar, Muenster, Five Brothers. Smoked Gouda and Raclette chesses. Top with one-half of the apples and stir lightly. Repeat with remaining pasta, sauce, cheeses and apples; stir lightly. Sprinkle evenly with reserved breadcrumb mixture on top.
6. Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake uncovered until hot, breadcrumbs are light golden brown and edges are bubbling, about 45 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. Enjoy!

This recipe was provided by Chef Nicole Gomes, Executive Chef of Nicole Gourmet in Calgary, AB in partnership with The Grate Canadian Cheese Cook-Off.