Stovetop Spaghetti “Mac” and Cheese
The mac and cheese that Test Kitchen chef Belle English grew up eating always had peas in it, providing the inspiration for this easy, kid-friendly recipe that’s still sophisticated enough for the grownups in the house. Although we use spaghetti here, any type of pasta will work, so it’s great for using up whatever box of noodles is hidden in the back of your pantry. And if you don’t have any half-and-half, you can use heavy cream instead, stirring in a little of the pasta cooking water to the finished dish to thin out the sauce a little, if needed.
Ingredients:
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 6 oz. (185 g) bacon or pancetta, cut into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces
- 2 shallots, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 1/2 cups (20 fl. oz./625 ml) half-and-half
- 2 cups (8 oz./250 g) grated Gruyère cheese
- 1 cup (4 oz./125 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup (5 oz./155 g) thawed frozen peas
- 1 lb. (500 g) spaghetti, bucatini or fettuccine
- 1/4 cup (1 oz./30 g) panko, toasted (optional)
Directions:
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil.
In a large fry pan over medium-high heat, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate. Add the shallots to the bacon fat and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Reduce the heat to medium, add the half-and-half and bring to a vigorous simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, then stir in the Gruyère and Parmesan until melted and thoroughly combined. Stir in the bacon and peas. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
Cook the pasta until al dente, according to the package instructions. Using tongs, transfer the pasta directly from the water to the sauce. Toss to thoroughly coat the pasta with the sauce and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the panko on top and serve immediately. Serves 6.
Belle English, Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen
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