Green Chili Mac & Cheese

Green chiles kick up this Mac & Cheese. You could add some grilled chicken.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• Breadcrumb Topping

• 6  tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2  cups  dried  white breadcrumbs, coarsely crumbled
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
•  salt, to taste

• Green Chili Crema

• 1  cup heavy cream
• 1 (13 ounce) can mild green chilies, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups) or 13  ounces  fresh stemmed, seeded, roasted, peeled green Anaheim chilies (about 1 1/2 cups)
•  half a  tomatillos, papery skin removed, sticky coating rinsed off, stemmed, chopped or   half a green tomato, chopped and mixed with 1/2 t. lemon juice
• 1  tablespoon  minced garlic
• 1  green onion, including green part, chopped
•  salt, to taste

• Pasta

• 1  lb ziti pasta (any short tubular pasta) or 1  lb  mini penne pasta (any short tubular pasta) or 1  lb mostaccioli pasta (any short tubular pasta)
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 9  ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese
• 9  ounces  queso asadero cheese (if you cannot find, substitute Monterey Jack, Muenster or Fontina)
• 1 1⁄2 ounces  freshly grated parmesan cheese (finely grated, about 3/4 cup)
• 2  tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1  cup  minced yellow onion (4 ounces or about 1/2 large onion)
• 1⁄2 cup  diced red bell pepper
• 1⁄2 cup  diced orange bell pepper
• 1⁄2 cup  diced green  poblano peppers (seeds removed) or 1⁄2 cup anaheim chili (seeds removed)
• 1⁄2 cup  fresh  sweet corn
• 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
•  salt, to taste
•  fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Breadcrumb Topping:.
2. In a small mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, bread crumbs, and garlic. Season to taste with salt. Set aside.
3. Green Chili Crema:.
4. In a medium saucepan, heat the cream and add the chiles, tomatillo, and garlic. Simmer gently for 2-4 minutes and then remove from the heat. Let cool.
5. Pour mixture into a blender and liquefy. Add the green onion and liquefy. Season with salt to taste.
6. Pour the crema through a single mesh strainer or sieve. The crema should be very smooth.
7. Mac & Cheese:.
8. Coat an 8- to 10-cup capacity, ovenproof casserole with vegetable spray or a dab of butter; or coat six 1½-cup capacity stoneware ramekins.
9. Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil, add 1 teaspoons of salt, return to a boil, and add the pasta. Cook until still al dente (but not until until fully tender).
10. Remove the pasta pot from the stove and carefully drain in a large colander. Run cold water over the pasta to cool it to room temperature.
11. Add pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add the cheddar, queso Asadero, and Parmesan and toss. Set aside.
12. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the onions and peppers and saute until just beginning to soften.
13. Add the corn and stir to coat with butter. Stir in the flour and cook without browning for two minutes.
14. Slowly pour in the Green Chile Crema and whisk constantly while bring the sauce to a simmer. Simmer, whisking continuously, for 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
15. Pour the sauce over the pasta and cheeses in the bowl. With a large spatula, fold to combine.
16. Spoon into the prepared casserole, mounding slightly at the center. Sprinkle on the breadcrumb topping.
17. Bake at 350º 30-40 minutes for a large casserole (or 10-15 minutes for individual ramekins), or until heated through and just bubbling. (High heat or excessively long cooking time may curdle the cheeses.).
18. Broil for a minute or two to finish browning the top.