How to Make Low-Fat Baked Macaroni and Cheese

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Macaroni and cheese is a legend as a comfort food ... and as a high-fat dish. This great alternative allows you to make a great tasting macaroni and cheese dish and it's lo-fat. You can dress this recipe up or keep it simple, whatever your tastebuds desire!

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375ºF and spray a 2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Step 3

Add the macaroni to the boiling water and cook about 7-9 minutes or until it is cooked al dente. Drain the macaroni and set aside.

Step 4

In a 2-quart saucepan, whisk the olive oil and flour together over medium heat. Cook, whisking occasionally for 2 minutes.

Step 5

Combine milk, water and sour cream, microwave for 2 minutes or heat on stovetop until hot, but not boiling.

Step 6

Slowly whisk the milk mixture into the olive oil and flour roux. Whisk occasionally for five minutes to ensure that lumps don’t form.

Step 7

Stir the Parmesan, Romano and Asiago cheeses into the milk mixture.

Step 8

Season with salt and pepper.

Step 9

Pour the macaroni into the prepared casserole dish.

Step 10

Immediately pour the milk mixture over it and stir to combine.

Step 11

Sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese on the top.

Step 12

Sprinkle the chopped green onions over the cheese.

Step 13

Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the onions.

Step 14

Sprinkle paprika over the bread crumbs.

Step 15

Bake, uncovered, for about 20 minutes or until the edges are bubbling and the top is golden brown.

Step 16

Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Tips and Warnings

In place of salt, use Garlic salt or roasted garlic/sea salt. In place of black pepper, use peppercorn mélange. In place of green onions, use French fried onions (note that this will increase the fat content of the recipe). Finely chopped ham, chicken, turkey or bacon make a great addition to this recipe (note that this will increase the fat content of the recipe). Additional great add-ins: Horseradish (1 tsp), Worcestershire sauce (1 tsp), Nutmeg (1/8 tsp), Cayenne (1/8 tsp), dry mustard (1/4 tsp).

Things You'll Need

1/2 pound shell or elbow macaroni, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons all purpose flour, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup freshly grated Romano cheese, 1/4 cup freshly grated Asiago cheese, Salt, to taste, Freshly ground pepper, to taste, 1/2 cup grated Colby/jack cheese, 1/2 cup diced green onion, 1/4 cup bread crumbs, Paprika

About this Author

Christy Flora has been writing professionally for more than fifteen years after winning her first awards for writing in the early 1980's. With a degree in Education, specializing in Organizational Leadership, Flora is an experienced, and published, author and editor. As a writer Flora has worked as an instructional designer spanning the genres of informational, educational and technical.

Article provided by eHow Home & Garden | How to Make Low-Fat Baked Macaroni and Cheese