Cranberry Brussels Sprouts Mac & Cheese

By Grilled Cheese Social

Cranberry Brussels Sprouts Mac & Cheese
Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts:
5 cups Brussels sprouts
1/2 large sweet Vidalia onion, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons salted butter, divided
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt & pepper
1 tablespoon Instant Gourmet (or your favorite seasoning blend)

Pasta:
2 tablespoons sea salt
1 (1-pound) box of cellentani (aka corkscrew) pasta

Asiago Cheese Sauce:
1/2 large sweet Vidalia onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons salted butter, divided
Salt
1 cup dried cranberries
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 quart (4 cups) heavy cream
1 1/2 cups (about 6 ounces) grated Wisconsin Asiago Cheese
1 cup crumbled Wisconsin Gorgonzola Cheese
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Directions:
Brussels Sprouts:
Rinse your Brussels sprouts, peel off any unsightly leaves, and put them in a microwavable Ziploc bag.  Place the filled bag in the microwave and cook on high for three minutes.  This will steam the veggies and make the caramelizing process quicker.  Once they’re steamed, take them out of the bag, let cool, and cut off the bottom and peel off the top leaves.  If more leaves fall off, save them. These loose leaves will get really crunchy and delicious in the browning process.

Once your Brussels sprouts are trimmed, coarsely chop half a Vidalia onion and set aside.  Next, melt one tablespoon of butter over medium heat and add the red pepper flakes.  Stir to allow the flakes to infuse in the butter and after about a minute add the onion.  At this point, you’ll want to add a pinch of salt to the onion to help it become soft.

After they’ve become softened and sort of translucent, add Brussels sprouts and remaining butter and turn heat up to medium/high.  Once they start to brown, add 1 tablespoon of Instant Gourmet seasoning and stir.

The sugar from the seasoning will caramelize the vegetables and they will become a beautiful golden color.  Once they develop the golden color, remove from heat and reserve for later.

Pasta:
Meanwhile, fill a large pot with 4-6 quarts of water (or enough water to cover your pasta) and turn to high heat.  As it begins to boil, add the salt, stir, and wait for it to come to a boil again.  Add your pasta and cook until the pasta is al dente – it should be about 11 minutes.

Don’t forget to stir every few minutes to avoid a clumpy ball of pasta.  Drain and shock with cold water so the pasta stops cooking.  Reserve for later.

Asiago Cheese Sauce:
The cheese sauce is the last component you’ll want to make because it is best to serve right when it’s done.  Begin by sautéing the diced Vidalia onion in 1 tablespoon butter.

Add a pinch of salt to help soften the onions and cook for a few minutes.  Then add the dried cranberries and the rest of the butter and stir until the butter is melted and the cranberries are heated, about 1-2 minutes.

Now it’s time for the flour.  Add 1 tablespoon flour to the onions and cranberries and stir.  Cook for about two minutes to bind to the other ingredients and dissolve the flour-y taste. After you’ve cooked down the flour, go ahead and slowly pour in all of your heavy whipping cream.  Turn the heat to medium high, as to not burn the cream, and wait for it to start to bubble.

Next, let it simmer until the cream is reduced by 1/3 and add the shredded cheese half a cup at a time. Stir in a figure 8 motion until the mixture is smooth and creamy.  After you’ve added all the cheese, stir in the Dijon mustard and remove from heat.  Add salt and pepper to taste. Now combine the Brussels sprouts, pasta and cheese in a large serving bowl and let the people eat!  Enjoy!

Asiago, Macaroni & Cheese, Recipe, Wisconsin Cheese

One Response to “Cranberry Brussels Sprouts Mac & Cheese”

1. sheila says:

   February 16, 2011 at 5:25 pm

   What a wonderful combination for mac and cheese!!!! I love this recipe!!!