Dinner recipes - Pimiento Mac and Cheese

Pimiento Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

·         12 oz. medium shells or other short pasta

·         1 tbsp. olive oil

·         1 medium onion, finely chopped

·         kosher salt

·         black pepper

·         1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

·         2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

·         3/4 c. low fat cream cheese

·         1 tbsp. lemon juice

·         2 tsp. grated lemon zest

·         1/4 tsp. Hot sauce (optional)

·         2 oz. Pepper Jack cheese, coarsely grated

·         3 oz. extra-sharp Cheddar, coarsely grated

Directions

1.       Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Rserve 3/4 cups of the cooking liquid, then drain the pasta.

2.      Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes.

3.      Add the red pepper and cook , covered, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are just tender, 4 to 5 minutes more. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

4.      Heat broiler. Add the sour cream, cream cheese, lemon juice and zest, and hot sauce (if using) to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until the cream cheese melts, about 1 minute.

5.      Add the pasta and 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid and toss to coat (adding more liquid if the pasta seems dry). Fold in the Jack cheese and all but 1/3 cup of the Cheddar. Transfer the pasta to a 2-quart baking dish, sprinkle with the remaining 1/3 cup Cheddar and broil until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.

PER SERVING 408 CAL, 16 G FAT (8 G SAT FAT), 40 MG CHOL, 425 MG SOD, 15 G PRO, 49 G CAR, 2 G FIBER