She Strengthens

Comfort Food Revival: Spicy Kimchi Mac and Cheese

When uncertainty surrounds us, our minds often wander to comforting thoughts and flavors. For many, comfort food is the answer to soothing frazzled nerves. Today, we’re going to merge two beloved comfort foods – Korean spices and classic pasta – to create a unique culinary experience.

The Birth of a New Classic

The idea of combining spicy kimchi with cheesy pasta sauce was born out of a desire to unite two favorite comfort foods. Drawing inspiration from the bold flavors of kimchi jjigae, a spicy Korean stew, we’ll marry the best parts of this dish with a rich, creamy pasta sauce.

The Spicy Paste: A Flavor Bomb

This spicy paste, made with anchovy fillets, crispy bacon, kimchi, gochugaru, and gochujang, packs a punch. The anchovy fillets provide depth without a fishy taste, while the bacon fat adds a rich aroma. If you prefer a vegetarian option, simply omit the anchovies. The fermentation stage of your kimchi will also impact the flavor, with well-fermented kimchi adding more depth. A dash of vinegar can help infuse the taste of fermented kimchi.

Experimenting with Cheeses

The cheese sauce is highly customizable, depending on your preferred ingredients. We’ll use a Mexican blend with cheddar and Monterey Jack, but feel free to experiment with brie, mozzarella, or goat cheese. This milk-based sauce can also be paired with steak or baked salmon, or tossed with any pasta you like.

Pasta Shapes: A Matter of Texture

Farfalle is an excellent choice for baked pasta, offering more surface area for the sauce and creating crispy bits when baked. However, tubular pasta like rigatoni or penne will also absorb the sauce well, albeit with fewer crispy textures.

The Final Touches

Once you’ve made the cheese sauce, it may seem too thick. Fear not – it will loosen up when combined with the pasta and pasta water. Mix the cheese sauce with the spicy paste, toss with the pasta, and season to taste. Don’t forget to top with more cheese before baking.

Spicy Kimchi Mac and Cheese Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 can of 2oz anchovies packed in olive oil
• 4 strips of bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup of kimchi, chopped
• 2 tbsp of gochugaru
• 2 tbsp of gochujang
• 8 tbsp of butter
• 8 tbsp of flour
• 2 cups of milk
• 3 cups of cheese (preferably mozzarella and cheddar)
• 1 lb of farfalle pasta
• Chopped scallions for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
2. In a large skillet, render the fat from bacon with olive oil from the anchovies until crispy.
3. Add chopped anchovies, diced onion, and kimchi to the pan, and sauté until the onion and kimchi are translucent.
4. Combine gochugaru, gochujang, and 2 tbsp of water to make a spicy paste.
5. Add the spicy paste to the anchovy, bacon, kimchi mixture and sauté for 3-4 minutes until it creates its chili oil.
6. In a separate pan, make a roux by whisking melted butter with flour over medium heat.
7. Pour room-temperature milk while whisking until everything is combined.
8. Add 2 cups of cheese into the milk sauce and season with salt.
9. Pour the cheese sauce into the reserved anchovy, kimchi mixture and mix everything thoroughly.
10. Cook the pasta 2-3 minutes short of the cooking time, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
11. Spray non-stick cooking spray in an oven-safe 4.8 Quart baking pan.
12. Mix cooked pasta with spicy, cheesy sauce in the pan using two spatulas.
13. Top the combined pasta with more cheese and bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes until the cheese is melted and the pasta is bubbling.
14. Garnish with chopped scallions.

Indulge in this ultimate comfort dish, packed with crunchy, spicy, and satisfying flavors. It’s the perfect remedy for uncertain times.