Grown-Up Macaroni and Cheese

Creamy homestyle macaroni and cheese with ingredients for the discriminating palate. This is a casserole dish, best for the nights that the kids are out and you want to surprise someone with a special occasion comfort food.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 771 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ cup milk (Optional)
• 1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tomato, chopped
• ⅓ cup bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon ground paprika
• 1 small shallot, finely chopped
• 6 ounces grated Cheddar cheese
• 1 (8 ounce) package small shell pasta
• 1 leek, finely chopped
• 1 cup milk, warmed (Optional)
• 2 tofu hot dogs, sliced 1/8-inch thick
• 3 ounces Brie cheese, rind removed and cut into cubes
• 2 ounces grated Asiago cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Step 2

Place porcini mushrooms in a small bowl. Cover with warm water. Let soak until rehydrated, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain and chop coarsely.

Step 3

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook shell pasta in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.

Step 4

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add leek and shallot; cook and stir until softened, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low; whisk in flour, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper. Pour in 1 cup warmed milk slowly, stirring constantly, until incorporated. Simmer sauce until thickened, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Stir chopped mushrooms, tomato, and tofu hot dogs into the sauce; fold in pasta. Stir in Cheddar cheese, Brie cheese, and Asiago cheese until melted.

Step 6

Pour pasta and cheese mixture into a 9-inch square casserole dish. Drizzle 1/4 cup milk on top if mixture seems too thick. Top with bread crumbs and paprika. Cover dish with aluminum foil.

Step 7

Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling in the center, about 20 minutes.