Bacon mac and cheese is delicious just as it looks. Perfect as a main dish, this delicacy is not only mouthwatering, but also healthy and high in Vitamin A, which is good for several health conditions, some of which include eye disease, pancreatic disease, and measles.
Matter of fact, a single serving provides up to 22 percent of a person’s daily Vitamin A requirement. With that in mind, consuming this delicacy frequently not only can be a great thing for your taste buds but also your health.
The next thing is knowing how to make it. Bacon mac and cheese may sound like a complex recipe, but the reality is that it’s one of the simplest recipes you can ever make at home. Matter of fact, this American cuisine dish takes a total of 40 minutes to ready; 20 minutes prep time and 20 minutes cook time. Having said that, here is a recipe that teaches you how to make it. Please note that this recipe will yield 8 servings of bacon mac and cheese. Before going to the recipe though, first thing first; the nutritional value of a serving of this nutrient-dense delicacy;
Nutritional Value Per Serving
i. Calories—508 kcal.
ii. Carbohydrates—17grams.
iii. Total fat—11 grams.
iv. Protein—2 grams.
v. Sugars—2 grams.
vi. Dietary fiber—2 grams.
vii. Sodium—311mg.
viii. Potassium—172 mg.
ix. Cholesterol—45 mg.
x. Vitamin A—-22.1% of your daily requirement.
xi. Calcium—-15% of your daily requirement.
xii. Phosphorous—14% of your daily requirement.
xiii. Selenium—11% of your daily requirement.
xiv. Vitamin B-12, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamin, and zinc—-less than 10% of your daily requirement, each.
N/B—Figures are rounded off to the nearest whole numbers.
What You Will Need
i. A source of heat.
ii. A large cooking pan.
iii. A paper towel.
iv. A whisk.
Ingredients
i. 16 oz. uncooked short pasta like elbow macaroni, cavatappi, etc.
ii. 12 oz. chopped bacon. Awesome if you have an active subscription with Sunbasket or Hello Fresh as each meal kit provider offers bacon as an ingredient. By the way, this brief review post breaks down each meal kit entity quite professionally. If you are stuck between Sunbasket and Hello Fresh, reading the post will lead you to picking the ideal choice, depending on your needs and preferences.
iii. 1/4 tsp. garlic powder.
iv. 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika.
v. 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese.
vi. 1/4 tsp. onion powder.
vii. 2 tbsp. baking flour.
viii. 1 tbsp. chopped parsley.
ix. 2 1/2 cups water.
x. 4 cups milk.
xi. Salt to taste.
xii. Pepper to taste.
Steps
Step 1: Wash, chop and set the parsley aside.
Step 2: Next, turn on the stove and set the heat to medium.
Step 3: Then, place the pan over the heat.
Step 4: After that, place the bacon in the pan and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until the meat is crispy.
Step 5: Thereafter, take the bacon out of the pan and drain the meat with paper towels.
Step 6: Now, discard some of the bacon fat, leaving about 2 tbsp of the fat in the pan.
Step 7. Then, add the baking flour to the pan and whisk for about 30 seconds, or until combined, using the whisk.
Step 8: Next, stir in the water and whisk once more until smooth and just thickened.
Step 9: Now, add the milk and whisk again until combined.
Step 10: Thereafter, stir in the pasta, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper and then bring the mixture to a simmer.
Step 11: Next, cook the mixture for about 10 minutes while stirring frequently, until pasta is done.
Step 12: After lowering the heat, stir in the cheddar cheese and keep stirring until the sauce is smooth. N/B: Feel free to add more milk, 1 tbsp at a time, until desired consistency is reached, if you need to thin the sauce.
Step 13: Now, stir in half of the bacon.
Step 14: Finally, sprinkle the remaining bacon over the top together with the parsley.
Step 15: Serve while still warm.
Possible Pairings
Bacon mac and cheese goes well with a number of drinks including coffee, white tea, whine, fruit juice and smoothie. Besides that, it pairs well with foods like beans, vegetables and vegetable salad as side dishes.
For a more filling meal, you could pair your dish with any of the above options. I prefer to take my bacon mac and cheese with milk or wine. It tastes just super delectable and keeps you full longer.
Some Fun Facts About Bacon Mac and Cheese
i. Bacon mac and cheese mainly consists of three different kinds of foods namely; bacon, macaroni, and cheese.
ii. Vegans and vegetarians both don’t eat bacon mac and cheese simply because of bacon and cheese all which come from animals.
iii. Many people are wrong to think that bacon mac and cheese originated in the Western world. In contrast, the American cuisine dish has its origins mostly in China and partly in Switzerland. Bacon was invented in China some 3500 years ago whereas cheese was introduced 7200 years ago, akso in China. Meanwhile, macaroni was introduced in the 15th century in Switzerland.
iv. Bacon mac and cheese, as said earlier, is a good source of Vitamin A, which has strong antioxidant properties. These properties are good for the brain, immune system, heart, and skin. They also help reduce inflammation.
Final Thoughts
Trying to decide on what to cook for dinner tonight? If yes, I have an incredible suggestion for you—bacon mac cheese. This is a very sumptuous and filling delicacy that is loaded with a wide range of essential nutrients. These include Vitamins A, B-6, B-12, C, D, and E, not to mention, protein, carbohydrates, and dietary fiber. Each of these nutrients provides a whole lot of health benefits, making it a very healthy dish.
What’s more, bacon mac cheese is very easy to prepare. The recipe consists of very easy steps, which entail dealing with readily available ingredients some of which you can source from your meal delivery service provider.
Lastly, the dish is widely pairable. This allows you to pair it with an extensive range of foods and drinks that include the above for a more delectable and filling course.
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