Double-dutch Mac & Cheese With Chard

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 6 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 3 cups reduced-fat milk (2%)
• 2 cups packed coarsely grated aged gouda cheese, plus
• 1/2 cup finely grated gouda cheese (about 10 ounces total)
• 2 cups packed coarsely grated edam cheese, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 lbs swiss chard or 1 1/2 lbs kale, stems and center ribs removed
• 12 ounces elbow macaroni
• 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs made from crustless sourdough bread
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed (optional)

Recipe

• 1 melt 3 tablespoons butter in large pot over medium heat. add onion; sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. stir in garlic, then flour; stir constantly 1 minute. gradually whisk in milk. cook, whisking occasionally, until mixture begins to boil, about 5 minutes. add 2 cups coarsely grated gouda and 1 cup edam. stir until cheeses melt, about 2 minutes. stir in cayenne and nutmeg. season sauce with salt and pepper.
• 2 preheat oven to 350°f butter 13x9x2- inch baking dish. cook chard in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 1 minute. using slotted spoon, transfer chard to plate; cool. reserve pot with water. squeeze water from chard; chop finely.
• 3 return water in pot to boil. add macaroni; cook until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. drain. stir macaroni into warm cheese sauce. place half of macaroni in dish; smooth top. top with 1 cup edam cheese, then chard. top with remaining macaroni mixture; spread evenly.
• 4 melt 3 tablespoons butter. place breadcrumbs in medium bowl. drizzle butter over; toss. add 1/2 cup finely grated gouda and sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss. sprinkle breadcrumb mixture over mac and cheese. sprinkle cumin seeds over, if desired.
• 5 bake mac and cheese until breadcrumbs are golden and edges are bubbling, about 40 minutes. let stand 10 minutes.