- 6
- 20 mins
- 85 mins
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup diced pancetta
- 1/2 cup small-diced onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups half-and-half or milk
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
- 1 pound small shell pasta, cooked al dente
- 4 ounces grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 4 ounces grated white Cheddar
- 4 ounces grated Gruyere
- 4 ounces grated fontina
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Set a large, wide-mouthed 6-quart pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil and pancetta to the pot and cook the pancetta until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the onions and garlic to the pan and cook until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the butter and flour to the pot and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the half-and-half to the pot and whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer. Season with the salt, white pepper and nutmeg and cook for 3 minutes. Add the pasta to the pot and remove from the heat. Add the grated cheeses to the pot and stir to combine well.
Transfer the contents of the pot to a 3-quart baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs with the Essence and sprinkle over the top of the macaroni. Bake uncovered until golden brown and bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes.