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Soul Food Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Reshma Jirage
A combination of macaroni and cheese is one of the most popular and delectable soul food dishes. In this write-up, we tell you about some of the more popular variants of this dish.
Soul food is the traditional cuisine of the African-Americans. It involves the use of a variety of ingredients such as meat, vegetables, breads, and beverages. Macaroni and cheese are popular as 'American comfort food'. Macaroni is a form of dry pasta; cheese is a rich source of calcium as well as protein and phosphorus. Check out the following delightful soul food macaroni and cheese recipes.

Macaroni and Cheddar Cheese

Ingredients:
  • Elbow macaroni, 1 box (about 16 ounces)
  • Whole milk, 1 cup
  • Cheddar cheese, (1½ pounds, shredded)
  • Butter, 1 stick (unsalted and softened)
  • Pepper, to taste
  • Salt, a pinch
Directions:
  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
  • Boil and cook the macaroni according to the package instructions. Drain the macaroni, and place it in the casserole plate.
  • Add 1 pound of shredded cheddar cheese, softened butter, milk, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix all the ingredients. Add the remaining cheddar cheese over the top layer.
  • Bake for nearly 1 hour until the top layer turns golden brown. Serve while hot.

Four Cheese Macaroni

Ingredients:
  • Elbow macaroni, (1 pound)
  • Cheddar cheese, ½ cup (2 ounces, mild, shredded)
  • Muenster or Gouda cheese, ½ cup (2 ounces, shredded)
  • Monterey Jack cheese, ½ cup (2 ounces, shredded)
  • Cheddar cheese, ½ cup (2 ounces, sharp, shredded)
  • Velveeta, 1 cup (8 ounces, cut into small cubes)
  • Half-and-half, 2 cups
  • Vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon
  • Eggs, 2 (large, lightly beaten)
  • Butter, 8 tablespoons, (1 stick plus 1 tablespoon)
  • Black pepper, 18 teaspoon (freshly ground)
  • Seasoned salt, ½ teaspoon
Directions:
  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
  • Boil a large pot of salted water over high heat, and add the macaroni and oil to it.
  • Allow it to cook for about 7 minutes, until the macaroni becomes tender. Drain the water.
  • Melt the butter in a small saucepan, and add the macaroni to it.
  • In another bowl, mix together mild and sharp cheddar, Muenster, and Monterey Jack cheese.
  • Add half-and-half, cubed Velveeta, shredded cheese, and eggs to the macaroni. Sprinkle salt and pepper for seasoning.
  • Transfer it to a lightly buttered casserole. Sprinkle it with shredded cheese and 1 tablespoon of butter.
  • Bake for about 35 minutes, and serve hot.

Low-fat Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:
  • Elbow macaroni, (4 ounces, dried)
  • Milk, 13 cup (fat-free)
  • American cheese, 4 slices, (low-fat, about ¾ ounces each)
  • Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon
  • Tub margarine, 2 tablespoons(light)
  • Mustard, 1 teaspoon, (prepared)
  • Red hot pepper sauce, 18 teaspoon
  • Salt, 18 teaspoon
Directions:
  • In a large saucepan, cook the macaroni as per package instructions without the addition of salt and oil. Drain the water, and place the macaroni again in the saucepan.
  • Add cheese, milk, margarine, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, hot pepper sauce, and salt to the saucepan.
  • Cook over medium heat for about 8 - 10 minutes, until the cheese melts and the mixture becomes slightly thick. Keep on stirring frequently while cooking.
  • Then remove it from the heat, and allow it to stand for about 5 minutes so that it becomes thicker. Serve hot.
A unique blend of macaroni and cheese can be an excellent choice for making various soul food recipes. With assistance from the above-mentioned recipes, prepare lip-smacking food and enjoy. Bon appétit!