
How To Make Basil And Avocado Mac & Cheese
Our mac & cheese recipe comes with a unique twist of avocadoes! It’s a creamier dish from the original, and perfect for big dinners with friends.
Serves:
Ingredients
- 1cupfresh basil leavestrimmed
- 1medium avocado
- 1garlicminced
- salt and pepperto taste
- 1packagewhole wheat pasta
- 4tbspunsalted butter
- 4tbspall purpose flour
- 2 ½cupswhole milk
- 1pinchnutmeg
- 1pinchpaprika
- 1cupcheddar cheesemedium, hand-grated
- 1cupcolby jack cheesehand-grated
- fresh parsley, and basil and breadcrumbs, to garnish
Instructions
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In a food processor or blender, pulse together the basil, avocado, and garlic until a smooth paste forms.
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Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
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In a large pot of salted boiling water, add the pasta and cook 1 to 2 minutes shy of the directed cooking time on the box.
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Save ½ cup of pasta water and drain the pasta when it’s done cooking.
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To make the roux, melt the butter In a pan on medium-high heat.
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Once the butter is melted, add the flour and whisk constantly until the mixture thickens into a paste, around 2 to 3 minutes.
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When thickened, pour in all of the milk at once, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula for about 5 to 6 minutes.
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Once the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, turn the heat off and season with nutmeg, paprika, salt, and pepper to taste.
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Add the cheddar and colby jack cheese then stir to combine the cheese with the sauce.
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When combined, add the basil and avocado puree, pasta, and pasta water.
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Stir until everything is thoroughly combined, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Garnish with parsley, basil, and breadcrumbs, serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Calories:Â 660.31kcal
- Fat:Â 48.89g
- Saturated Fat:Â 26.04g
- Trans Fat:Â 0.85g
- Monounsaturated Fat:Â 15.78g
- Polyunsaturated Fat:Â 2.73g
- Carbohydrates:Â 31.15g
- Fiber:Â 4.26g
- Sugar:Â 13.07g
- Protein:Â 27.13g
- Cholesterol:Â 119.94mg
- Sodium:Â 943.66mg
- Calcium:Â 770.37mg
- Potassium:Â 738.93mg
- Iron:Â 1.91mg
- Vitamin A: 420.70µg
- Vitamin C:Â 13.31mg
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