Creamy, Light Macaroni and Cheese

Submitted by CaliforniaJan

"From the September 2011 Cooking Light (cover recipe). This is the most delicious macaroni and cheese I've ever eaten! No one will know it's full of healthy butternut squash and just the right amount of cheese. This is a true winner! To save time, I bought my butternut squash in the produce section already cut up. Perfect and what a time saver. Use a pasta with a nice shape to cling to all the yummy sauce."

 

• Ready In: 55mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 709.77 ml butternut squash, cubed peeled
• 295.73 ml fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 354.88 ml nonfat milk
• 2 garlic cloves
• 4.92 ml kosher salt
• 2.46 ml black pepper
• 29.58 ml fat-free Greek yogurt
• 295.73 ml gruyere cheese, grated
• 236.59 ml pecorino romano cheese, grated
• 59.14 ml parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated and divided
• 453.59 g uncooked pasta
• cooking spray
• 4.92 ml olive oil
• 118.29 ml panko breadcrumbs (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 29.58 ml fresh parsley, chopped

directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Combine squash, broth, milk, and garlic in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer until squash is tender when pierced with a fork, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. Place the hot squash mixture in a blender. Add salt, pepper, and Greek yogurt. Remove the center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Place blended squash mixture in a bowl; stir in Gruyère, pecorino Romano, and 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano. Stir until combined.
4. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain well. Add pasta to squash mixture, and stir until combined. Spread mixture evenly into a 13 x 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray.
5. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add panko, and cook for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from heat; stir in remaining 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Sprinkle evenly over the hot pasta mixture. Lightly coat topping with cooking spray.
6. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with parsley, and serve immediately.

Reviews

[ellie_]

Very good and cheesy! This takes a lot longer than other mac n' cheese recipes but we enjoyed this very much. By the way I just used one butternut squash - and I did not measure - so my amount may have been a bit more or less than specified. Thanks for sharing!