Baked brie mac & cheese with shrimp and cauliflower
Creamy, baked mac & cheese with brie, cauliflower, mushroom, and shrimp
Ingredients
- 4 oz casarecce pasta any pasta that hugs the sauce will work well.
- 1-1/2 cups whole milk
- 4 oz brie
- 5 pieces whole grain crackers
- 2 oz Swiss cheese
- 2 cups cauliflower
- 1 cup frozen green peas
- 5 pieces cremini mushrooms about 1/2 package
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 piece fresno pepper 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes can work as well.
- 1 oz white wine optional
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest optional
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons oregano fresh or dried
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Cook pasta per instruction.
- Prepare vegetables: wash and break cauliflower in small pieces; thaw green peas; slice mushrooms.
- Prepare aromatics: slice garlics, finely chop Fresno pepper, zest about 1/2 of lemon.
- Sauté shrimps: pat dry shrimps with paper towel and sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of salt. When the pan is warm, swirl in half of olive oil. When the oil is hot, add garlic and peppers , and cook in medium heat for about 2 minute. When garlics turn golden brown, transfer to a warm plate. Increase the heat to medium high and add shrimps to the pan, and cook both sides, about 2 min. each. Set them aside in the same, warm plate.
- Sautee mushrooms: In the same pan, swirl in the rest of olive oil and add mushrooms. When the mushrooms are lightly coated with oil, add white wine, and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Make cheesy sauce mix: warm milk to a little higher than lukewarm temperature - in a regular microwave, for 1-1/2 cup of milk, it will take about 2 minutes. Cube brie in small pieces (I use every pat of it, but you can remove rind if you prefer a softer texture) and add to a medium sized bowl, along with the warm milk. Crush crackers in small pieces and add to the sauce.
- Put them all together: Set the oven temperature to 400. In a bowl with the sauce, add in pasta, 1/4-teaspoon of salt, and sautéed aromatics, shrimp, and mushrooms. Also add in green peas and cauliflower. If you like a softer texture for the cauliflower, you can blanche for 30 seconds. Mix them well so that all the ingredients are coated well with the sauce.
- Ready to bake: In a lightly greased baking dish (this time I used a 11" Nambe bowl and any small to medium baking dish - 9x12 or smaller - will work just fine), lay the pasta mix evenly. Sprinkle oregano. Grate the swiss cheese over the surface, and bake for about 20 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling.
Nutrition
Calories: 802kcalCarbohydrates: 74gProtein: 39gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 20gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 1136mgPotassium: 1041mgFiber: 9gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 1533IUVitamin C: 90mgCalcium: 634mgIron: 4mg
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