Pepperoni Mac and Cheese: A Delicious Twist on a Classic Comfort Food
If you’re looking for a new way to enjoy macaroni and cheese, look no further than this Pepperoni Mac and Cheese recipe. This dish is a delightful mashup of macaroni and cheese with the flavors of a pepperoni pizza. The addition of tomato paste and Italian spices to a classic Mornay sauce takes this comfort food favorite to the next level.
The recipe calls for cavatappi pasta, a hollow, corkscrew-shaped pasta that holds onto the cheesy sauce beautifully. The curlicues of cavatappi ensure that every bite is packed with flavor. And let’s not forget about the pepperoni – layered throughout the dish and sprinkled on top, the pepperoni adds a familiar pizza flavor that will have you coming back for seconds.
But what exactly is pepperoni? Pepperoni is a type of sausage made with pork, turkey, or a blend of beef and pork. It is typically cured with nitrates or nitrites and seasoned with paprika and various chilies. While it is commonly known as a pizza topping, pepperoni can also be used in dishes like chicken parmesan and salads to add a new depth of flavor.
If you’re unable to find cavatappi pasta at your local grocery store, don’t worry. You can easily substitute it with other pasta shapes like rotini, elbows, rigatoni, bow-tie, or penne. The key is to choose a pasta shape that will hold the cheesy sauce well, just like cavatappi does.
Before baking the Pepperoni Mac and Cheese, make sure to scatter a few extra pepperoni slices on top of the pasta. This will allow the pepperoni to crisp up as it bakes, adding a delicious crunch to each bite.
To complement the flavors of this dish, consider pairing it with a berry-cherry light red wine, such as Azienda Agricola Cos Frappato. The fruity notes of the wine will perfectly balance the rich and savory flavors of the Pepperoni Mac and Cheese.
Whether you’re a fan of classic macaroni and cheese or a pizza lover looking for a new twist, this Pepperoni Mac and Cheese recipe is sure to become a favorite in your household. Enjoy the gooey, cheesy goodness of this dish and savor the flavors of a pepperoni pizza in every bite.
