Poblano Macaroni and Cheese

So I pretty much love the Homesick Texan.  D's mom got me the cookbook (or should I say him since he does the cooking) for Christmas and so far everything as been really good.  This was no exception. Spicy macaroni and cheese.  D said the only thing that would make it better would be bacon.

Will have again.

Poblano Macaroni and Cheese

Photo by ALB

From Lisa Fain, The Homesick Texan
Serves 8

Ingredients
2 Poblano chiles
8 ounces elbow pasta
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (used regular)
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk (used 2% milk)
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon lime zest
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
4 cups white cheddar, grated (12 ozs)
1/2 cup cotija cheese

Preparation
Roast the poblano chilies under the broiler until blackened, about 5 minutes per side. Place the chiles in a paper sack or plastic food-storage bag, close it tightly, and let the for 20 minutes. Take the chiles out of the bag and rub off the skin. Take the chiles out of the bag and rub off the skin. Remove the stem and seeds and chop the chiles into 1-inch long pieces.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook according to your package's directions ad then drain the pasta. (You want the pasta to be cooked but not mushy; cook for 5 minutes.)

Preheat the oven to 375. Grease a large baking dish or a large 12 inch cast-iron skillet, and pour the drained pasta into the dish.

In a pot (you can use the pot the pasta cooked in or you can do this while the pasta boils), on low heat melt the butter. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the flour and cook until a light brown, toasty paste is formed, about 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and stir until it's thickened a bit but still fluid, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the mustard powder, cayenne, cumin, lime zest, cilantro, and chopped poblano chiles. Adjust seasonings and add salt and black pepper.

Slowly add half of the cheddar cheese and stir until it's melted and well combined into the sauce. (If the sauce has cooled too much and the cheese won't melt, return the pot to low heat on the stove seems a little thick return it to the stove until soft again. If however, the sauce gets too thick, like a custard, you can thin it by stirring in milk, a teaspoon at a time.) Pour sauce over pasta and top with the remaining half of the cheddar cheese and bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until brown and bubbling. Sprinkle with Cotija cheese, and serve immediately.

Nutritional Information (using our ingredients)
Calories: 351; Carbs: 26; Fat: 20; Protein: 18; Sodium: 432; Fiber: 1