Recipe: Zesty Kale Two Ways and Fontina Mac & Cheese

This week on the show, Evan talks with Laura Werlin about sneaking veggies into mac and cheese.

This recipe for Zesty Kale Two Ways and Fontina Mac & Cheese comes from Laura’s book Mac & Cheese, Please! 50 Super Cheesy Recipes.

Zesty Kale Two Ways and Fontina Mac & Cheese

(From Laura Werlin’s Mac & Cheese, Please! 50 Super Cheesy Recipes, Andrews McMeel

Publishing, LLC)

Kale seems to have become the vegetable of the moment, which is good news for kale lovers like

me. In this mac & cheese, the hearty vegetable appears two ways: mixed into the casserole and

also as a crispy topping. Because of this, it almost seems like it’s two different vegetables, which

makes this not only delicious but also fun to eat.

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 tablespoon plus 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt

8 ounces cavatelli pasta (or use small shell pasta)

12 ounces curly-leaf kale (about a large bunch)

5 tablespoons olive oil

¾ cup coarsely chopped yellow or red onion (about ½ medium onion)

1 medium clove garlic, minced

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese, finely grated (about 1 cup; or use Parmesan)

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2½ cups whole or reduced-fat milk

½ cup heavy cream

12 ounces Fontina cheese, coarsely grated (about 4 cups)

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

¼ teaspoon ground or freshly grated nutmeg

Fill a 4- to 5-quart pot about three-quarters full with water and add 1 tablespoon of the salt. Bring

to a boil and add the pasta. Cook, stirring once or twice, until tender but firm, about 8 minutes,

and drain. Reserve the pot.

To prepare the kale, remove the stems. Cut 4 whole leaves into quarters and coarsely chop

the rest. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and

cook for 5 minutes, or until soft. Add the chopped kale and garlic and cover and cook, stirring

occasionally, until the kale is tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the red pepper flakes and ½ teaspoon

of the salt and set aside.

Place the quartered kale leaves in a small bowl. Toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, half the

pecorino, and salt and black pepper to taste. Set aside.

Using the same pot you used to cook the pasta, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Slowly whisk in the flour and stir constantly until a paste forms, 30 to 45 seconds. Continue stirring for 1 to 2 minutes, until the mixture starts to darken slightly and smell a bit nutty. Slowly whisk in the milk, cream, and the remaining ¾ teaspoon salt and cook until the mixture starts to thicken and is just beginning to bubble around the edges, 5 to 7 minutes. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Add 3 cups of the Fontina, the remaining pecorino, the cayenne, and nutmeg and stir until the sauce is smooth but not too runny. It should be similar in texture to cake batter. If it’s soupy, continue cooking until it thickens.

Add the pasta and chopped kale mixture, and stir to combine. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining Fontina on top. Distribute the quartered kale leaves over the top. Place the dish on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until bubbling and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Add-Ins

Dried currants: Soak ½ cup currants in hot water for 15 minutes. Drain and add to the sauté pan

with the kale and garlic.