Crab Cake Mac N Cheese

By vealam

O-M-G this is good! Scrumptious crab meat with creamy mac n cheese kicks this classic dish up to the next level. Makes a great side or snack. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• Salt
• 1 pound cavatappi or elbow pasta with lines on conchiglie (small fat tube/shell shaped pasta with lines)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 3 ribs celery with leafy tops, finely chopped
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 small red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tablespoons freshly chopped thyme leaves, several sprigs
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 pound fresh lump crabmeat, picked for shells and flaked
• 1 tablespoon seafood seasoning (recommended: Old Bay)
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/3 pound, about 1 rounded cup grated sharp white Cheddar
• 1/3 pound, about 1 rounded cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
• 3 tablespoons hot sauce (recommended: Frank's Red Hot)
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• A generous handful flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, a couple of handfuls

Preparation

Step 1

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat, then salt the water. Add the pasta and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, (it will be undercooked). Cool, drain well and add it to a large bowl.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, and 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium to medium-high heat. Add the celery, onion, red pepper, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, lemon zest, salt and pepper, to taste. Cook to tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the crabmeat to the vegetables and season liberally with seafood seasoning. Stir to combine, then remove from heat.

In a medium sauce pot, over low heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter and whisk in the flour. Cook for 1 minute, then whisk in the milk and bring to a bubble. Season the sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg, to taste, and cook for a few minutes, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Add the mustard and the cheese and stir in a figure 8 motion. Add the vegetables and crab, sauce to the bowl with the pasta and transfer the mixture to individual baking crocks or a large casserole dish. This can be made ahead to this point and refrigerated.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

To complete the dish, melt a couple of tablespoons butter in a small skillet, over low heat and add 3 tablespoons hot sauce. Warm through, then add the panko crumbs and toss to evenly coat the crumbs in sauce mixture. Cool the crumbs, then toss in the parsley and 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Top the mac n cheese with the spicy crumb mixture. Arrange individual crocks on a baking sheet or put the casserole on baking sheet to catch any drips.

Bake until brown and heated through, about 10 minutes. If cooking from cold, the mac n cheese will take 40 to 45 minutes, but add the crumbs the last 10 minutes of baking.