Orzo Mac 'n' Cheese with Jalapeño

Votes: 1

How to Make - Orzo Mac and Cheese with Jalapeños

Time: 35 min.
Complexity: easily
Servings: 6

Nutritional value per serving:

Serving size: 1 of 18
Calories 298, total fat 16 G., saturated fats 7 G., proteins 8 G., carbohydrates 33 G., fiber 4 G., cholesterol 27 mg, sodium 401 mg, sugar 5 G.

Make Mexican-style mac 'n' cheese. A cheese sauce made from sharp cheddar and creamy cream cheese is simmered with roasted jalapeños for a savory and warming flavor. Stir in cooked orzo pasta, top with breadcrumbs and thinly sliced chili peppers, and toast in the oven for a crispy topping. Serve the mac 'n' cheese with guacamole, where all the ingredients of this Mexican appetizer are chopped and gently mixed, not blended into a paste.

The recipes use measuring containers with the following volumes:
1 glass (st.) - 250 ml.
3/4 cup (st.) - 180 ml.
2/3 cup (st.) - 160 ml.
1/2 cup (st.) - 125 ml.
1/3 cup (st.) - 80 ml.
1/4 cup (st.) - 60 ml.
1 tablespoon (tbsp) - 15 ml.
1 teaspoon (tsp) - 5 ml.
1/5 teaspoon (tsp) - 1 ml.

Ingredients for the recipe:

Mac and cheese

450 g orzo pasta
110 g butter
6 jalapeños; 4 seeded and finely chopped, 2 thinly sliced with garnish
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
3 tbsp. premium flour
2.5 cups of milk
2 cups grated sharp cheddar
110 g of cream cheese
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
2 Fresno peppers, thinly sliced

Guacamole salad

5 medium heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced
2 almost ripe avocados, peeled and thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, finely chopped
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
Extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle
Juice of 2 limes
0.5 cup fresh coriander leaves, coarsely chopped

Ingredient Substitution Suggestions

We recommend

Cooking the dish according to the recipe:

Mac and cheese:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the orzo pasta until al dente, about 6 minutes; drain.
Meanwhile, heat 4 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped jalapeño, garlic, and onion and cook until the jalapeño and onion are softened, 5 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the milk and stir until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the cheddar and cream cheese and stir until completely melted.

Combine orzo pasta with sauce and transfer to casserole.
Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter and toss with the breadcrumbs until completely coated. Sprinkle over the casserole. breadcrumbs, sliced jalapeno and Fresno pepper.
Guacamole salad:

Gently toss the tomatoes, avocado, jalapeño, and onion in a serving bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and lime juice, season with salt, pepper, and cilantro.
Divide the mac and cheese among plates and serve with salad.

Note

You can assemble the casserole without topping, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Reheat in the oven, and prepare the salad just before serving.