Mac And Cheese: Pasta Or Not?

Macaroni and cheese, or mac and cheese, is a popular dish in the UK and US. But is it a pasta? The answer is yes—macaroni is a type of pasta. However, some people may not refer to it as such when it is prepared as the dish mac and cheese. The earliest mention of pasta and cheese being combined dates back to 160 BCE, when Roman senator Marcus Porcius Cato wrote about a dish that could be construed as pasta and fresh cheese. This dish was called placenta. Later, in the 13th century, two anonymous cookbooks, Liber de coquina and Libro della cocina, contain recipes for layered pasta and cheese dishes, with the pasta being referred to as lasanis and lasagne.

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Macaroni is a type of pasta

Macaroni is a versatile pasta that can be used in a variety of dishes, but it is most commonly associated with the classic comfort food, macaroni and cheese. This dish, also known as "mac and cheese," combines macaroni pasta with a cheese sauce, resulting in a creamy and indulgent dish that has become a staple in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.

The history of macaroni and cheese dates back centuries and spans multiple cultures. The earliest known mention of a pasta and cheese dish was in ancient Rome, where the senator Marcus Porcius Cato wrote about a recipe called "placenta" in his treatise "De Agri Cultura" from around 160 BCE. This dish consisted of layers of cheese packed between sheets of whole-grain dough.

In the Middle Ages, anonymous Italian cookbooks from the 13th century, such as "Liber de coquina" and "Libro della cocina," included recipes for layered pasta and cheese dishes, similar to the modern-day lasagne. The first mention of macaroni specifically was in 1279, and it began to appear in literature as a beloved food item, such as in Giovanni Boccacio's "The Decameron" from around 1350.

The combination of pasta and cheese continued to evolve, and in the 18th century, Italian emigrants brought their culinary traditions to the UK and the US. Over time, the dish was adapted to use local ingredients, resulting in the creation of macaroni and cheese as we know it today. Thomas Jefferson is often credited with introducing macaroni and cheese to elite families in the American South, with the help of his enslaved chef, James Hemings, who studied culinary arts in France.

Today, macaroni and cheese remains a popular dish, with various recipes and interpretations. While the specific type of pasta used can vary, the goal is always the same: to create a creamy, indulgent dish that combines the perfect marriage of pasta and cheese.

Origins of mac and cheese

Macaroni and cheese, also known as mac and cheese, is a popular dish in the UK, US, and Canada. While its exact origins are unknown, there are several theories about how it came to be.

One theory suggests that mac and cheese is an Anglo-Saxon twist on a typical Italian dish made with pasta and cheese. Italian emigrants brought this dish to the UK and US in the 18th century, adapting it to use local ingredients and changing the shape of the pasta. Over time, the dish became culturalised, with its Italian origin fading from popular memory.

Another theory credits James Hemings, a formerly enslaved man who became America's first French-trained chef, with bringing mac and cheese to the US in the late 18th century. Hemings learned the dish in France, where he accompanied his enslaver, Thomas Jefferson, who was interested in extruded pasta. In 1802, Jefferson served "a pie called macaroni" at a state dinner, and a recipe for "macaroni and cheese" appeared in an influential 1824 cookbook, "The Virginia House-Wife" by Mary Randolph.

The earliest recorded recipe for mac and cheese may be found in "The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy", a colonial-era cookbook. Another early recipe, from 1769, can be found in Elizabeth Raffald's "The Experienced English Housekeeper", which includes a Béchamel sauce with cheddar cheese, mixed with macaroni, sprinkled with Parmesan, and baked.

In the 19th century, "macaroni" generally referred to dried tubular pasta outside of Italy, and numerous cookbooks published in England and the US featured recipes for macaroni and cheese. By the mid-1880s, cookbooks as far west as Kansas and Missouri included recipes for macaroni and cheese casseroles.

In the 20th century, the popularity of mac and cheese continued to grow. The baked version was often served for celebrations or Sunday suppers, while the stovetop variety was an everyday dish. It became so popular in the US that it was first canned and sold in supermarkets in the 1930s. Today, it is considered a quintessential American dish, with a variety of regional variations.

Mac and cheese in Italy

Mac and cheese is a beloved dish worldwide, but its origins lie in Italy. While it may be considered a quintessentially American recipe today, the first mac-and-cheese-adjacent recipe was believed to have ancient Italian roots. The 13th-century book, Liber de Coquina, featured a recipe called "de lesanis," which food historians agree is the first written iteration of what would become mac and cheese. De Lesanis was an adaptation of lasagna, where sheets of lasagna pasta were cut into squares, layered with cheese and seasonings, and baked. This dish eventually evolved into the modern mac and cheese we know and love.

Over the centuries, the dish underwent transformations and appeared in various cookbooks before taking on its current form. It is believed that Italian emigrants in the 18th century brought this dish to the UK and US, adapting it to use local ingredients and changing the recipe over time. While mac and cheese is now a comfort food staple in many countries, it has diverged significantly from its Italian predecessor.

In Italy, you won't typically find the familiar mac and cheese on the menu. However, there is an Italian twist on this classic comfort food. The Italian version of mac and cheese typically uses penne noodles smothered in a creamy mozzarella cheese sauce, seasoned with Italian herbs, and topped with Parmesan. This dish takes under 30 minutes to prepare and can be served with chicken dishes like Italian Chicken Cutlets or vegetables like Italian Lacinato Kale.

To prepare the Italian-style mac and cheese, start by making a creamy cheese sauce. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, add flour and Italian seasoning, and cook while whisking. Next, add milk and whisk until thickened. Finally, stir in the cheeses until smooth. Boil your choice of pasta, such as penne or small-shaped pastas like rotini or shells, and combine it with the sauce. Garnish with red pepper flakes and serve.

For an even more authentic Italian flavor, you can incorporate pancetta. Fry small squares of pancetta in a cold pan over medium heat until golden brown, then set aside. Add these crispy bits to your mac and cheese for a savory, crunchy surprise.

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Best pasta shapes for mac and cheese

Macaroni and cheese, or mac and cheese, is a pasta dish. While it is not a traditional Italian dish, it is derived from one. Macaroni is a type of pasta, and when making mac and cheese, it is common to use this pasta shape. However, there are many other pasta shapes that can be used to make the dish interesting and elevate the experience.

Elbow macaroni is one of the most common pasta shapes used for mac and cheese. It is narrow and tubular and holds its structure well, especially when using a thick cheese sauce. Cavatappi is another good option, as it is similar to elbow macaroni but has a corkscrew shape with ridges that allows the sauce to soak in and penetrate the centre and outer portions of the pasta.

Other pasta shapes that can be used include shells, which are shaped like pockets or conch seashells and are perfect for filling with cheese sauce. Creste di Gallo, which means "rooster's head" in Italian, is another option with a hollow middle and fine ridges that trap and hold the sauce. For a posh spin on the classic, Gemelli pasta is a fun corkscrew shape that suits both heavy and light sauces.

Wagon wheels are a more controversial choice, but their nooks that are open on two sides create the perfect ratio of pasta to sauce.

Is mac and cheese a real pasta dish?

Macaroni and cheese, or "mac and cheese," is a dish that combines pasta and cheese. It is considered a classic comfort food and is especially popular in the United States and the UK. While it is unclear whether "mac and cheese" qualifies as a "real pasta dish," we can examine its history and ingredients to gain a better understanding.

First, it is important to establish that macaroni is indeed a type of pasta. This is evident from the name "macaroni" itself, as well as the fact that it is made from the same dough as other types of pasta. However, the distinction arises when "macaroni" is combined with "cheese" to create the iconic dish.

The earliest mention of a pasta-and-cheese combination dates back to 160 BCE in Ancient Rome. Marcus Porcius Cato, a senator of the Roman Republic, included recipes in his treatise, "De Agri Cultura," that could be interpreted as early versions of pasta and cheese dishes. One such dish was called "placenta," made with layers of cheese packed between sheets of whole grain dough.

Centuries later, in the 13th century, two anonymous Italian cookbooks, "Liber de coquina" and "Libro della cocina," featured recipes for layered pasta and cheese dishes, similar to lasagne. The first mention of "macaroni" specifically in relation to cheese occurs in the context of Italian emigrants in the 18th century. These emigrants adapted their traditional dishes to the local ingredients available in their new countries, leading to the creation of what we now know as "mac and cheese."

Over time, "mac and cheese" became increasingly popular, especially in the US, where it was even canned and sold in supermarkets during the 1930s. However, it is worth noting that the Italian culinary tradition generally frowns upon overcooking pasta, as is often done in the preparation of "mac and cheese." The pasta in "macaroni cheese" is boiled beyond the al dente stage, soaked in milk, and then baked in the oven, resulting in a twice-cooked dish.

In conclusion, while "mac and cheese" does contain pasta, specifically macaroni, its preparation and cooking methods may deviate from traditional Italian pasta dishes. The distinction between "pasta" and a "pasta dish" is a matter of definition and cultural context. Therefore, whether "mac and cheese" is considered a "real pasta dish" may depend on individual perspectives and culinary traditions.

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