Description
Kim’s mac and kim-cheese recipe blends Korean and American comfort foods into a creamy, spicy delight. Cheesy noodles mingle with gochujang and crispy toppings, creating a memorable meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (226 g) elbow macaroni
- 6 oz (170 g) goat’s milk or regular white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 oz (57 g) gruyere cheese, shredded
- 0.5 oz (14 g) pecorino cheese, finely shredded
- 0.5 cup kimchi, drained and coarsely chopped
- 0.75 cup (180 ml) milk
- 1 tsp sodium citrate
- 0.25 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Water Preparation: Fill a large pot with water, generously salt, and set to high heat until vigorously boiling.
- Pasta Cooking: Add macaroni to the boiling water, stirring occasionally, and cook until just shy of al dente, roughly 1-2 minutes less than package recommendation.
- Cheese Sauce Foundation: In a medium saucepan, combine milk and sodium citrate over medium temperature, whisking periodically to dissolve and create small bubbles around the pan’s perimeter.
- Cheese Integration: Decrease heat to low, creating a gentle simmer, and systematically introduce cheese varieties, whisking thoroughly after each addition to ensure complete melting and smooth consistency.
- Ingredient Amalgamation: Gently fold cooked macaroni and chopped kimchi into the creamy cheese sauce, ensuring even distribution of flavors and textures.
- Baking Preparation: Activate oven broiler and lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish with butter, transferring mac and kimchi-cheese mixture into the prepared dish.
- Final Transformation: Sprinkle reserved cheese and breadcrumbs across the top, position dish under broiler, and monitor closely for 3-5 minutes until breadcrumbs turn golden brown and cheese develops a bubbly, enticing surface.
Notes
- Salting Strategically: Add enough salt to boiling water to enhance pasta flavor, but avoid over-salting as sodium citrate and cheese will contribute additional saltiness.
- Cheese Melting Mastery: Select high-quality cheeses that melt smoothly, like sharp cheddar or gruyère, and grate them freshly to ensure better texture and quicker incorporation.
- Pasta Perfection Timing: Cook macaroni slightly underdone to prevent mushiness during final broiling, as pasta continues cooking when mixed with hot cheese sauce and baked.
- Kimchi Kick Management: Drain kimchi thoroughly to prevent excess liquid from making sauce watery, and chop into small pieces for even distribution and balanced flavor in every bite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Korean-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg