Creamy cozy mac and cheese with a surprise spin! This mouthwatering Spicy Mac n Cheese is cooked with warm flavorful spices that add an exotic taste to the classic dish! My go-to recipe especially when I am craving hot, comforting spicy foods.
PROCESS:
- First, boil your water and cook the pasta. Strain and save 1 cup of pasta water
- In the same pan, sauté chopped onions and garlic, followed by tomato paste and all the seasonings. Next, make a creamy sauce by milk, cream cheese and all the cheeses, then stir in the cooked pasta, mixing everything together.
- Finally, garnish with chili flakes, chopped parsley or coriander and enjoy your delicious meal!
Here’s what you are going to need to make it:
Butter: Adds richness and flavor.
Olive Oil: Helps prevent the butter from burning during cooking.
Garlic: Provides a strong, aromatic flavor.
Onion: Adds sweetness and depth to the base of the sauce.
Tomato Paste: Adds rich tangy flavor to the dish. You can add tomato pesto for smokier flavor.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors in the dish.
Chili Flakes: Adds heat and spiciness to the dish, adjust it based on your spice preference.
Black Pepper: Adds warmth and enhances the overall flavor profile.
Oregano: An earthy herb.
Chili Powder: Adds heat to the dish.
Sugar: Balances the acidity of the tomato paste.
Milk: Adds creaminess and helps to create a smooth sauce.
Cream Cheese: Adds richness and a creamy texture to the sauce.
Heavy Cream: Provides a rich creaminess.
Cheddar: Adds sharpness and a classic cheesy flavor.
Mozzarella: Essential for Cheesy mac n cheese, provides a stretchy, gooey texture and mild flavor, perfect for mac and cheese.
Dry Macaroni: Main ingredient for your mac n cheese.
Fresh Coriander: Adds a pop of color and fresh flavor.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 1 Tsp Olive Oil
- 4-5 cloves of garlic (minced)
- 1 small Onion (finely chopped)
- 1/3 cup tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp chili flakes
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp Sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon Cream cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Cheddar
- 1/2 cup Mozzarella
- 4 ounces/120 grams Dry Macaroni
- Fresh Coriander for garnish
Method:
Step 1: Boil the Macaroni
- In a medium-sized saucepot, boil water and salt it. Add your pasta and cook according to the package instructions. When the pasta is cooked, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics
- In a skillet, melt 1 tablespoons of butter over medium heat and add 1 tsp olive oil.
- On low heat add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Next add finely chopped onion and cook till turns translucent.
Step 3: Add the spices
- When onions turn a little translucent add 1/3 cup of tomato paste and cook on low medium heat for 2-4 minutes.
- Then add 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tsp chili flakes, 1/2 tsp black pepper,1/2 tsp oregano, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp Sugar and mix everything together on low heat.
- Add a tablespoon of pasta water and cook for a minute.
Step 4: Add cream
- Now after a minute add 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup heavy cream and mix everything.
- Next add in the both the cheeses and mix them together.
Step 5: Add Boiled Macaroni
- Once the cheese is melted, add in the boiled macaroni and mix on low heat.
- After everything is mixed, simmer on medium low heat for couple of minutes.
Step 6: Final touches
- Next top it up with extra mozzarella cheese and sprinkle some chili flakes on top.
- Garnish with freshly chopped coriander and enjoy!
Tips and notes:
- Cook the pasta al dente – slightly undercook the pasta shells it will continue to slightly cook and soften when you add them to the sauce at the end. this ensures the perfect texture and prevents the pasta from becoming overly soft and mushy.
- You can add protein of your choice by simply adding simple spices to marination.
- You can also add a cube of chicken stock to elevate the flavors.
- You can easily elevate round out this cheesy chicken pasta into a full meal by serving this with a side salad, some roasted/steamed vegetables or some garlic bread.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. you can reheat the leftovers on the stove or on the microwave – just add a splash of cream to prevent the pasta from drying out.
- Save a cup of pasta water when you drain the cooked pasta. adding some of this to the sauce will help bind it, making it silkier and more cohesive.
- This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed more people or if you want to have leftovers. just make sure to use a large enough pot to accommodate the increased volume.
- Save your pasta water!!
- It’s better to save a bit more water than you think you’ll need. One cup of pasta water is typically a good starting point. You can always add more if needed.
- Be mindful of the saltiness of the pasta water. Assuming you salted the water you cooked your pasta in (which is definitely recommended), the saved pasta water will be salty. Adjust the salt in your sauce accordingly.
- Taste your mac and cheese before serving and adjust the seasoning if needed. You can add more salt, pepper, or herbs to suit your taste. Cooking is a personal experience, always adjust to your preference!
- This pasta is best served hot, straight from the stove.
