Aldi Day 10: Truffle Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Truffle is an ingredient that can tend to overpower a dish. You have to be conscious of how much you include and which other ingredients you include. With that said, the truffle flavors included in today’s truffle cheddar is balanced beautifully. Truffle is a highlight instead of a focal point in this Truffle Cheddar mac and cheese recipe.

Every year, Aldi releases a cheese Advent calendar. The calendar contains one individually wrapped piece of cheese for each day. There are twelve different cheeses available so we have two opportunities to explore different recipes we can make to feature each cheese. This is one of those recipes. Follow along here.

It’s important to balance out the flavors in your mac and cheese recipes. Some flavors sit at the beginning of the bite, and some at the end, and for a well rounded dish you want to use ingredients that hit both sides of the spectrum. I generally try to do this with cheeses, but other ingredients can also serve as the opener or closer in a dish.

Truffle is a great example of a closer flavor.

Truffle Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Course: Side DishCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Total time

30

minutes

Ingredients

• 16 oz pasta cooked according to package directions

• 3 tbsp butter

• 3 tbsp flour

• 3 cups whole milk

• 4 oz Truffle Cheddar, grated

• 4 oz Extra Sharp Cheddar, grated

• salt to taste

• pepper to taste

Directions

• Pre heat your milk in the microwave for 45 seconds – just enough to take the chill out of it.
• Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat and let it heat until it becomes foamy.
• Mix in flour. Cook it for a minute while stirring constantly
• Slowly add warmed milk to the butter mixture 1/4 cup at a time. Whisk it continually until combined. Season generously with salt and fresh cracked pepper.
• Once all of the milk is added, cook for a few minutes while whisking it. Do not let it boil.
  
  You will feel the sauce start to thicken. It’s ready for cheese when you rub a small amount between your fingers and it feels silky.
• Remove from heat and stir in your cheese until it’s melted and mixed into the sauce.
• Once the cheese is incorporated, use a cooked noodle to taste your sauce. If it doesn’t taste cheesy enough try adding a little more salt to bring out the flavor.
• Combine the pasta and sauce and serve.