A heaping helping of cheesy macaroni pie is a homely side dish common on several Caribbean islands. Barbadian chef and culinary ambassador for Barbados, Marvin Applewhite, says it’s like your grandmother’s recipes that you grew up eating and just know how to make. Masu. Serve a hearty macaroni pie with beef stew, rice peas, potato salad and sweet coleslaw for a Sunday feast. “You’ll be full afterwards,” says Marvin.
A beachside lunch of smoked red snapper and rum-soaked bread pudding, courtesy of Marvin and fellow Barbados Food and Rum Festival headliner Trevon Stout, where the two chefs prepare macaroni dishes. He taught me some basics of Bajan home cooking, including how to make a pie. Baked macaroni and cheese gets extra flavor and color with ketchup, mustard, and Scotch bonnet pepper-based hot sauce.
When I recreate macaroni pie at home, I reach for the bottle of One Drop Hot Sauce that Marvin and Trevon gave me to try (and I’m now obsessed with it). In our test kitchen, we tried Aunt May’s recipes. If you don’t have a similar Caribbean-style sauce, you can substitute your favorite hot sauce, but keep in mind that the taste will vary slightly. Adding Tabasco etc. will add a slight smoky flavor.
macaroni pie ingredients
- ziti pasta
- very sharp cheddar cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- smoked gouda cheese
- butter
- whole milk
- ketchup
- yellow mustard
- packed brown sugar
- onion
- garlic
- fresh thyme sprig
- ground pepper
- salt
- bhajan hot pepper sauce
direction
Step 1: Boil the pasta
Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large pot, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and return the pasta to the pot.
Step 2: Add other ingredients
Combine the 3 shredded cheeses, reserving 4 cups of cheese for the topping.
Add the cheese and remaining ingredients (butter, milk, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, onion, garlic, thyme, pepper, salt, hot pepper sauce) to the pasta over low heat and stir until everything is well combined and the cheese begins to melt. . melt.
Editor’s tip: According to Marvin, the color of the dish should be “yellow-orange.” You don’t want mustard, so he recommends adding it a little at a time to taste. Too Mustard-like.
Step 3: Bake
Transfer mixture to two greased 13-by-9-inch baking dishes. Sprinkle with reserved cheese.
Bake macaroni pie, uncovered, at 350° for 45 to 50 minutes, until golden brown and cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before eating.
macaroni pie tips
Can I use other cheeses in macaroni pie?
This three cheese macaroni pie recipe uses a combination of mature cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and smoked Gouda cheese. If you’re going to stick to the recipe, Marvin says to choose the sharpest cheddar you can find, like extra-sharp Vermont cheddar. But if you don’t have cheddar on hand, try a milder cheddar cheese. You can also omit the smoked gouda and increase the cheddar cheese.
What do you serve with macaroni pie?
Serve macaroni pie whenever you bake macaroni and cheese. Pair it with fried or grilled fish, baked chicken, and stews, or add it to dishes with juicy burgers, barbecued chicken, and plates of pickles.
Macaroni pie is usually a side dish, but there’s nothing stopping you from eating it as a main dish. Serve on the table with a green salad and tangy coleslaw. A bottle of hot pepper sauce is also fine.
