Jalapeno Popper Orzo Mac-n-Cheese
- Difficulty: Easy
- Servings: 6
- Nutritional Info per Serving (1 of 6): Calories 895, Total Fat 47 g, Saturated Fat 20 g, Carbohydrates 100 g, Dietary Fiber 12 g, Sugar 15 g, Protein 23 g, Cholesterol 79 mg, Sodium 1203 mg
- Total Time: 35 min
- Active Time: 20 min
Mac-n-Cheese Ingredients:
- Kosher salt
- 1 pound orzo pasta
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter
- 6 jalapeno peppers (4 seeded and finely chopped, 2 sliced with seeds)
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 2 Fresno chile peppers, sliced
Guac Salad Ingredients:
- 5 medium heirloom tomatoes, thinly wedged
- 2 avocados, nearly ripe, pitted, peeled and sliced
- 1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Juice of 2 limes
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
Instructions:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the orzo until just tender, about 6 minutes, then drain.
- While the orzo cooks, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped jalapenos, garlic, and onions and saut until softened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
- Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then stir in the Cheddar and cream cheese until fully melted and smooth.
- Combine the cooked orzo with the cheese sauce and transfer to a casserole dish.
- Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter, toss with the panko to coat evenly, and sprinkle over the orzo. Top with the sliced jalapenos and Fresno chiles.
- For the guac salad, gently toss the tomatoes, avocados, jalapenos, and red onion together on a serving plate. Drizzle with olive oil and lime juice, season with salt and pepper, and scatter cilantro on top.
- Serve the orzo mac-n-cheese alongside the vibrant guac salad.
The orzo mac-n-cheese (without the breadcrumb layer) can be covered and refrigerated ahead of time. Reheat in a moderate oven before adding the guac salad and serving.
Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray
