Trinidadian Macaroni Pie Recipe

Caribbean macaroni pie is a beloved baked macaroni and cheese dish that no gathering can go together with out, significantly all through the vacations. It’s crowd-pleasing, tasty, and economical. At any time when there is a trip potluck the question is on a regular basis, “Who made the macaroni pie?”

There’s a silent judgment inside the air and to get a “go” it means the pie should be tasty by itself and likewise complement each half else on the plate, paying homage to a comforting Sunday afternoon lunch of stewed rooster, callaloo, and inexperienced fig salad. Within the occasion you are used to a saucy macaroni and cheese nevertheless want to try one factor new in your trip menus, this mannequin is the suitable choice to convey Caribbean style to a standard American favorite.

What Makes Macaroni Pie Specific

Jamaican, Trinidadian, Bajan, Guyanese, and totally different Caribbean cuisines have slight variations on this recipe, and it varies from prepare dinner dinner to prepare dinner dinner, nevertheless the substances and methodology of cooking are comparable. The macaroni, generally bucatini, is seasoned with pimento peppers, garlic, typically onions, dried seasonings, and regardless of totally different additions the prepare dinner dinner decides. Evaporated milk, ketchup, mustard, and loads of cheese are stirred in, then baked in a casserole until golden and company. As quickly because it’s executed baking it ought to keep up its kind when decrease, even when correct out of the oven. This firmness is a gigantic part of what distinguishes macaroni pie from macaroni and cheese found exterior of the Caribbean.

The Key Elements

• Cheese: Traditionally, Anchor New Zealand white cheddar is used for Trini macaroni pie. I’ve noticed this mannequin is hard to look out in a typical US grocery retailer, nevertheless chances are you’ll positively buy it at West Indian markets, specialty cheese retailers, and connoisseur markets, along with Complete Meals. Any further sharp white cheddar will work utterly in place. I’m using every Tillamook further sharp white and yellow cheddar (for coloration) on this pie.
• Pimento peppers: These might be not the tiny canned bits of pink pimento that you simply’re used to. Native to Trinidad, pimentos are small peppers, current in shades of inexperienced, yellow, orange, and pink. They’re moreover known as “seasoning peppers.” They lend a mildly spicy style to any dish nevertheless with out the heat. You will discover pimento peppers at West Indian supermarkets, specialty markets, and some grocery outlets. Within the occasion you’ll be able to’t uncover them, cubanelle peppers may be a wonderful substitute proper right here.
• Pasta: Bucatini is a popular various for macaroni pie, nevertheless chances are you’ll positively use elbows. The thought is to resolve on a tubular pasta kind which will seize the seasonings and delicious sauce contained within the noodle.

Macaroni Pie Variations

• Milk: Evaporated milk is usually utilized in Caribbean cooking. We even like to make use of it in our espresso and tea! It’s helpful and gives a pleasing style to sweet and savory dishes paying homage to macaroni pie. It’s possible you’ll positively use total milk in place, nevertheless heavy cream is just a bit too rich for me since this pie already has quite a few cheese and eggs.
• Eggs: It’s a “do as you please” kind of recipe so chances are you’ll cross over the eggs, nevertheless I like to include them on account of they really preserve each half collectively.
• Crunchy topping: Usually I moreover make a pleasing cracker or panko topping for added texture.
• Inexperienced seasoning: I like in order so as to add a heaping tablespoon or two of Caribbean inexperienced seasoning to the macaroni whereas mixing. It gives it further style. You will discover out strategies to make inexperienced seasoning as part of the recipe in my Guyanese Rooster Curry.

Make Ahead

Within the occasion you are planning an unlimited feast for the holidays and want to get a bounce on points, chances are you’ll prep and assemble this pie, refrigerate it, and bake it the next day.

Further Caribbean Recipes for Celebrating

Cook dinner dinner Mode
(Maintain show display awake)