Soulful Mac & Cheese: Cooking The Comfort Food Classic

Soul food macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. It's a creamy, rich, and super-cheesy dish with irresistible crispy browned cheese edges. The best part about this soul food favourite is that it can be made in so many ways and with so many different types of cheese. The key to a great mac and cheese is a creamy cheese sauce, which can be achieved with sodium citrate, an emulsifier found in foods like ice cream and jarred alfredo sauce. Another secret to this soul food staple is smoked cheddar, which adds a unique flavour to the dish. The versatility of this recipe means you can use whatever cheese you like, as long as they aren't hard cheeses like aged gruyere or 1,000-day-aged gouda, which don't melt easily when baked.

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Preparing the pasta

Once the pasta is cooked, drain the water and rinse the pasta under cool water. This stops the cooking process and prevents the pasta from becoming overcooked. Set the pasta aside and return the pot to the stove. You will use this pot to make the cheese sauce.

It is important to note that the pasta should be cooked al dente because it will continue to cook in the oven later in the recipe. By stopping the cooking process with cool water and only cooking it until it is just al dente, you ensure that the pasta does not become overcooked and mushy.

Some recipes suggest using pasta shells instead of elbow macaroni if you want to experiment with different shapes. However, traditional soul food macaroni and cheese typically uses elbow macaroni noodles.

Making the sauce

Soul food macaroni and cheese is a creamy, rich, and cheesy dish. The sauce is a key component, and it's made with a combination of different cheeses, milk, butter, and flour. Here's a step-by-step guide to making the sauce:

Ingredients

You will need:

• Butter
• Flour
• Milk (evaporated milk or a combination of evaporated milk and half-and-half)
• Cream (or sour cream)
• Cheese (cream cheese, gouda, havarti, sharp cheddar, Colby Monterey Jack, smoked cheddar, or a combination of these)
• Seasonings (salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, nutmeg, etc.)

Step 1: Make a Roux

Start by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, sprinkle in an equal amount of flour. For example, if you used 4 tablespoons of butter, use 4 tablespoons of flour. Whisk these together until well combined and cook for a few minutes to create a roux. This will thicken your sauce and form the base.

Step 2: Add Milk and Cream

Pour in your milk and cream, whisking continuously. You can use evaporated milk, or a combination of evaporated milk and half-and-half, or regular milk. If you want extra creaminess, you can use sour cream or heavy cream. Continue whisking over medium heat for about 3 minutes to incorporate everything and heat through.

Step 3: Add Cheese

Reduce the heat to low and start adding your cheeses. You can grate or shred them beforehand to help them melt faster. Add cream cheese, gouda, and havarti, stirring until melted and combined. You can also add other cheeses like sharp cheddar, Colby Monterey Jack, or smoked cheddar. Keep stirring until you have a creamy, cheesy sauce.

Step 4: Season to Taste

Sprinkle in your chosen seasonings to taste. Common options include salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and nutmeg. Whisk these in to incorporate, and taste your sauce as you go to ensure it suits your preference.

Tips:

• For a super creamy sauce, use sodium citrate, a food-grade emulsifier found in products like American cheese. It will thicken the sauce and ensure it doesn't separate.
• Avoid using hard cheeses like aged Gruyere or aged Gouda, as they tend to separate and not melt easily when baked. Opt for milder, younger versions of these cheeses instead.
• If you want a custard-style sauce, add eggs to the mixture, creating a cheesy custard filling.

Combining the sauce and pasta

Once your pasta is cooked, drained, and set aside, it's time to make the cheese sauce. In a large saucepan over medium heat, add 4 tablespoons of butter. Melt it down completely, then sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of flour. Whisk the ingredients until they're well incorporated, and then pour in the evaporated milk and half-and-half (or, if you don't have half-and-half, you can use regular milk). Continue whisking and cooking over medium heat for about 3 minutes.

Now it's time to add the cheese. Reduce the heat to low, then add in the cream cheese, gouda, and havarti. You can also use other cheeses, such as smoked cheddar, Colby Monterey Jack, or mild cheddar, as long as they aren't hard cheeses like aged gruyere or 1000-day-aged gouda, which don't melt easily when baked. Stir the mixture until the cheese has melted and you have a nice, creamy sauce.

At this point, you can add in your seasonings. Sprinkle in salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder to taste. You can also add in some nutmeg and brown sugar if you like a sweeter mac and cheese.

Finally, it's time to combine the sauce and pasta. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce. Stir until the pasta is fully coated in the sauce. You can then transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish and top with some fresh cracked pepper, if desired.

Bake your soul food macaroni and cheese in a preheated oven at 350 F for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and the filling is bubbling. If you prefer a browner top, place it under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to ensure it doesn't burn. Allow the dish to cool for about 15 minutes before serving to let the filling set.

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Adding cheese

Soul food macaroni and cheese is all about the cheese—the more, the better! The best kind of mac and cheese has a custard-style filling made with eggs and evaporated milk. It should be creamy, rich, and super cheesy, with irresistible crispy browned cheese edges.

For the cheese sauce, you can use a combination of cream cheese, gouda, and havarti. Start by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle in some flour and whisk until well incorporated. Next, pour in the evaporated milk and continue whisking. Reduce the heat to low and add in the cheeses, stirring until you have a nice, creamy sauce. You can also add some sodium citrate to ensure your cheese sauce doesn't break apart and thickens nicely.

When it comes to shredded cheese, you can use a combination of sharp cheddar, Colby Monterey Jack, and gouda. You can shred and mix these cheeses together and add them to the cooked macaroni along with the milk, egg, and sour cream mixture.

Finally, sprinkle some cheese on top before baking. This will give you those irresistible crispy browned cheese edges.

Baking

To bake soul food macaroni and cheese, you will need to preheat your oven to 350°F. The dish should be baked for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and the filling is bubbling. If you prefer a browner top, place the dish under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.

For a more well-done top, you can leave the dish in the oven for 5-10 minutes after turning off the heat. This will allow the dish to continue cooking without burning.

Before serving, let the dish cool for about 5 to 15 minutes. This will allow the filling to set, ensuring that it holds together when served.

Soul food macaroni and cheese can be prepared ahead of time and baked the next day. To do this, simply complete all steps except for baking, and place the dish in the fridge, covered with plastic wrap. When you are ready to bake, follow the same instructions as above, adding 5-10 minutes to the total baking time.

Frequently asked questions