Leek Mac And Cheese Recipes

MAC 'N' CHEESE WITH LEEKS AND HAM

Steps:

• Rub a small saucepan with garlic; leave the garlic in the pan
• Add the milk and stock, and heat over medium just until warm
• Remove from heat and cover to keep warm
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta
• In a deep skillet or wide saucepan, heat the EVOO, one turn of the pan, over medium to medium-high
• Add the leeks and thyme, and cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are wilted, 3-5 minutes
• Stir in the ham, season with salt and pepper, and transfer to plate
• Add the butter to the skillet
• Once the butter melts, add the flour and whisk one minute to make a roux
• Whisk the warm milk mixture into the roux and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg
• Simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 3-5 minutes
• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat the broiler
• Salt the boiling water and add the pasta
• Cook, stirring often, until al dente
• Stir the Gruyère and half the Parmigiano-Reggiano into the besciamella (white sauce) and add a few dashes of Tabasco; season
• Drain the pasta and add to the sauce along with the leek and ham mixture
• Transfer to a 3-quart casserole dish and top with the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Broil until the filling is bubbly and top is browned, 2-3 minutes

CHEESY LEEKS à LA OLIVER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.
• Trim, wash and slice the leeks, about 2cm thick, at an angle. Peel and slice the garlic, then pick the thyme leaves.
• Put a large casserole-type pan (ideally one you'd be happy to serve in) on a medium heat and add a drizzle of oil, the butter, thyme leaves and garlic.
• Cook until it begins to bubble and fry, then stir in the leeks. Continue cooking and checking on it every few minutes to stir and make sure it doesn't catch.
• At this point, you have two choices: one is good, one is great. You can either stir the rest of the ingredients into the leeks, grating in the Cheddar and Parmesan, and tearing in the brie, then put it into the oven to cook for 45 minutes uncovered, or, if you want the sweetest leeks in the world (and I think you do), do the following...
• Turn the heat under the pan down a little and cook the leeks for about 35 minutes, or until soft and intensely gorgeous, stirring every now and then.
• Season, then spoon it all into a dish, or leave in the pan.
• Stir in the cream and splash of water, grate over the Cheddar and Parmesan, then pull the brie into parts and bomb those on top.
• Pop in the oven for 15 minutes, or until golden and bubbling.

MAC AND CHEESE WITH LEEKS AND GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a large pot of boiling salted water cook the pasta until al dente, drain and set aside.
• In a skillet over medium heat melt 2 tablespoons of butter and oil and cook the leeks until tender but not browned. In a bowl combine the cooked leeks with the Bechamel Sauce, Gorgonzola, Asiago, thyme, oregano, and parsley. Toss the sauce with the pasta until well coated and season, to taste.
• Grease a 9-inch springform pan with the remaining butter. Fill the springform pan with the pasta mixture and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 40 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before removing from the pan and slicing.
• In a heavy bottomed pot over medium heat, melt the butter and saute the garlic for 2 minutes until fragrant, but not brown. Remove the garlic and discard. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the flour to make a roux, cook for 4 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
• Heat the milk to just below boiling. Pour 1 cup of milk into the roux, whisking constantly as the sauce thickens. Add the rest of the milk, in 1/2 cup portions, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Simmer the sauce over low heat for 8 minutes, stirring the bottom of the pot with a spatula to prevent burning. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheese, kosher salt and nutmeg to finish the sauce.

LEEK MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet.
• Add the leek greens and cook over high heat, stirring just until slightly wilted, 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Cook over low heat until very tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.
• Add the flour and cook over moderately high heat, whisking, for 2 minutes. Add the half-and-half and bring to a boil, whisking until thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat.
• Add 2 cups of the cheese, season with salt and pepper and whisk the cheese sauce until melted.
• In a large saucepan of salted boiling water, cook the macaroni until nearly al dente.
• Drain well.
• Add the macaroni and the cheese sauce to the leek greens and stir until combined.
• Transfer the macaroni to an 8-by-11-inch baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.
• Bake for about 40 minutes, until bubbling.
• Turn the broiler on and broil the mac and cheese until golden brown on top, about 3 minutes.
• Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

CHEESY LEEK AND BROCCOLI PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to packaged instructions. Drain, rinse and set aside.
• Heat 3 tbsp butter in a skillet on medium heat. Add the sliced leeks and cook for a few minutes, stirring often so they do not burn. Add the broccoli and cook for a few more minutes, or until the broccoli is tender.
• In a saucepan, on medium heat, melt the 1/4 cup butter. Whisk in the flour until smooth. This creates a roux. Continue to whisk it for a minute.
• While whisking, slowly pour in the milk. Once smooth add 2 1/4 cups of the grated cheese and spices. Stir until smooth.
• In a large bowl, mix the pasta, cheese sauce and sauteed vegetables, until all the noodles are covered in some sauce. Spread the mixture in a casserole dish.
• Sprinkle remaining cheese on top..
• Bake in a 350F oven for 30 minutes.

BACON, LEEK, AND TOMATO MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in an 8-quart stockpot.
• Meanwhile, place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain bacon on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add macaroni, Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to the boiling water. Cover and let simmer vigorously for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• While the macaroni mixture cooks, trim dark green parts off leek and discard. Slice leek in half lengthwise, then crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Place in a bowl of cold water and swish to remove dirt. Drain leek and stir into the macaroni mixture.
• Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until macaroni is tender and sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut tomatoes in half lengthwise. Remove cores and scrape out seeds. Dice tomatoes; reserve 1/4 cup for garnish. Remove stockpot from heat; stir in remaining tomatoes and 1/2 of the bacon. Spoon macaroni into a serving bowl and garnish with remaining bacon and reserved tomatoes. Serve immediately.

MACARONI CHEESE WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/fan 180C. Cook the macaroni.
• Heat the oil in a pan and add the garlic and leeks and allow to soften.
• Melt the butter in a pan.Stir in the flour gradually.
• Add the milk gradually, stirring to avoid lumps.Add the mustard.
• Add the cheese and stir the mixture until it has melted into the sauce.
• Stir the leeks into the sauce. Add the cooked pasta.
• Put the mixture into an oven proof dish, top with cheese and bake for 20mins.