| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 1 hr 5 min |
| Prep: | 35 min |
| Cook: | 30 min |
| Yield: | 4 to 6 servings |
Ingredients
- 9 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 pound elbow macaroni
- 1 pound homemade-style spicy pork sausage, removed from casings and crumbled
- 1 cup chopped yellow onions
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell peppers
- 1 tablespoon Essence, recipe follows
- 4 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon anise seeds
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
- 3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
- 1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
- 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Butter a large casserole dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold running water. Drain well.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, stirring, until browned and the fat is rendered. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan. Add the onions, bell peppers, and 1 teaspoon of the Essence, and cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and anise seeds, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove from the heat.
- Melt the remaining stick of butter in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour, and stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, cook over medium heat until thick, 3 to 4 minutes, being careful not to let the flour brown. Using a whisk, add the milk in a steady stream and cook, whisking constantly, until thick and smooth, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the salt, pepper, cayenne, and 2 cups of the cheese, and stir well. Add the noodles, cooked sausage and vegetables, and stir well to combine. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the remaining 1 cup of cheese with the breadcrumbs and remaining 2 teaspoons of Essence. Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 25 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
- Recipe from “New New Orleans Cooking”, by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 6 servings |
| Calories | 859 |
| Total Fat | 55 g |
| Saturated Fat | 27 g |
| Carbohydrates | 60 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 11 g |
| Protein | 34 g |
| Cholesterol | 149 mg |
| Sodium | 933 mg |
Reviews
my wife and i love this recipe. i use fennel instead of anise, but follow the recipe otherwise. makes great leftovers, also.
This is a favoritein my family. We dochange the sausage up by using half the sausage and the other half chorizo. We also use heavy cream in place of the milk.