We Don't Know What's More Drool-Worthy — This Chef or His Mac 'n' Cheese
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Fact: macaroni and cheese is one of life's greatest treasures. While the classic version is a culinary staple for college kids and professional chefs alike, it's also really fun — and delicious — to play with different ingredients and amp up the flavors. And if there's anyone who knows how to do just that, it's chef Dom Tesoriero, a finalist from season 11 of Food Network Star.
Dom owns Mac Truck, New York's only mac and cheese food truck, and he serves up some crave-worthy renditions of the pasta dish, like buffalo chicken mac 'n' cheese, BBQ pulled pork mac 'n' cheese, and fried mac 'n' cheese bites. And, if we're being honest, we're not sure what looks better . . . the chef or the food! I watched Dom and his Italian accent show off his on-camera culinary chops all season long on the competitive show, and my next goal is to make my way to NYC to try out his creations. Ahead, read some of Dom's tips on getting a next-level macaroni and cheese dish, and don't be afraid to experiment the next time you make dinner.
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Broil It
If you've never tried adding breadcrumbs to the top of your mac and broiling it to crunchy perfection, you're missing out. "By putting your mac 'n' cheese under the broiler for just a minute, you get that crispy, toasty, smoky flavor," said Dom.
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Fry It
The textural combination of fried macaroni and cheese bites makes them irresistible — a crunchy bite of the outside leads you to melty, gooey glory on the inside. Dom's advice to get perfect bites every time, like the ones from his food truck? "I coat my mac bites with a 50/50 mixture of potato chips and potato flakes, then fry them to crispy perfection."
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Sauce It
Although it's the main component of the sauce that coats the macaroni, you don't have to stick to just cheese. "Get creative with some of your favorite condiments. Mix and match to add interesting flavors to your mac 'n' cheese. I like to drizzle a little BBQ sauce and sriracha on mine," Dom said. A little ranch or hot sauce goes a long way!
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Top It
"You can easily make your mac 'n' cheese a hit by using your imagination and topping it with some familiar items," Dom advised. Hint: buns aren't the only appropriate bed for cheeseburgers. Try mixing in seasoned ground beef, bacon, and crispy breadcrumbs for killer bacon cheeseburger mac, like Dom's, pictured above. You don't have to be a real chef to make the macaroni and cheese of your dreams!