Macaroni Pie

Name: Macaroni Pie
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Trinidadian
Ingredients: 16 oz elbow macaroni; 2 tsp salt; 3 tbsp unsalted butter; 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 12 oz evaporated milk; 2 large eggs, beaten; 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded; 1 tsp yellow mustard; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Trinidad's beloved baked macaroni pie is denser and more custardy than American mac and cheese, held firm with egg and layered with cheddar in every bite.

65 minEasyServes 6430 cal/serving

TrinidadianSideOvenVegetarianHalal-friendlyPork-FreeAlcohol-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

16 oz elbow macaroni
2 tsp salt
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
12 oz evaporated milk
2 large eggs, beaten
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tsp yellow mustard
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
2

Cook 16 oz elbow macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
3

Melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion and cook 3 minutes. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat.
4

In a large bowl, whisk together 12 oz evaporated milk, 2 beaten large eggs, 1 tsp yellow mustard, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, and 2 tsp salt.
5

Stir the cooked macaroni, sauteed onion mixture, and two-thirds of the 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the egg-milk mixture. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
6

Spread the remaining sharp cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
7

Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes until the top is golden and the center is firm. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.

Questions

Can I make Macaroni Pie dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 12 oz evaporated milk, 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed; the evaporated milk for a plant-based version of the same product; the cheese for a plant-based melting cheese (expect a milder flavor). The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Macaroni Pie gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 16 oz elbow macaroni. Swap the pasta for a gluten-free one, cooked a minute short of its package time. Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Macaroni Pie keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat covered in a 300 F oven until warmed through.

Can I halve or double Macaroni Pie?

Yes. As written it serves 6. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

Serve it with

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