Kimchi Mac and Cheese (Printable)
Creamy, cheesy macaroni meets spicy kimchi in this comforting Korean-American fusion dish ready in under an hour.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 10.5 oz elbow macaroni
→ Cheese Sauce
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
04 - 2 cups whole milk
05 - 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
06 - ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
07 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
08 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
09 - ½ tsp salt
→ Kimchi Mixture
10 - 1 cup kimchi, chopped and well-drained
11 - 1 tbsp kimchi juice
12 - 2 spring onions, finely sliced
13 - 1 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
→ Topping
14 - ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
15 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
16 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a medium baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Cook macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
03 - In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to form a smooth paste.
04 - Gradually pour in milk while whisking continuously. Continue whisking for 4-5 minutes until sauce thickens and bubbles gently.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, Dijon mustard, black pepper, and salt until cheese is completely melted and sauce is smooth.
06 - Fold in cooked macaroni, chopped kimchi, kimchi juice, spring onions, and gochujang. Mix until pasta is evenly coated.
07 - Pour the mac and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly.
08 - In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs with 1 tbsp melted butter and sesame seeds. Mix until crumbs are evenly coated.
09 - Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the mac and cheese.
10 - Bake for 15 minutes until the top is golden brown and the cheese sauce is bubbling around the edges.
11 - Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set slightly.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The tangy fermentation cuts through rich cheese making each bite impossibly addictive
- Its the ultimate fusion of two comfort food worlds that somehow belongs together
02 -
- Draining kimchi for at least ten minutes prevents a watery disappointing sauce
- Letting the dish rest five minutes before serving allows the sauce to set properly
03 -
- Grate your own cheese since pre shredded cheese contains anti caking agents that prevent smooth melting
- Broil for the last two minutes if you prefer extra crispy topping texture