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(Lighter) Gouda Macaroni and Cheese, Plus Foodie Gifts

December 10, 2012 by Nancy Lopez-McHugh 35 Comments

Lighter Gouda Macaroni and Cheese by Spicie Foodie

When we moved to Europe one of the items that we always asked for in our care packages was boxes of macaroni and cheese. My husband and I so craved the taste of comfort food from home. (Back then I didn’t cook) Every time we tore open the shipment containers we grinned at the sight of those little blue boxes. It wasn’t that the taste of the packaged macaroni was fantastic, it was simply that it connected us to our families and childhoods in the states.

Lighter Gouda Macaroni and Cheese by Spicie Foodie

In the earlier European days we both craved a taste of home more often than we do now. So receiving those care packages was something we were very grateful for. You’d be surprised at the silly things one can miss when they move away from their native or adopted land. That also leads to spending a considerable amount of money to buy those products from specialty shops which import them. Once we found a few of the blue mac & cheese boxes here and ended up spending about four times than we would back home. Ah… the things you’ll do when you’re home sick.

Lighter Gouda Macaroni and Cheese by Spicie Foodie

Eventually we both got over those cravings and have really taken a liking for local products over ones from back home. Even so it doesn’t mean that we still don’t crave certain foods -we do. One day I decided that I would teach myself how to cook better and non-color additive macaroni and cheese. It took me a couple of tries but I finally have a simple yet delicious recipe. Additionally it is lighten up a bit so we can enjoy it more often. By “lighten-up” I don’t mean using fat-free or light ingredients. No, my recipe uses full fat ingredients and if you substitute them with fat-free products the results will not be the same. Here’s how I make my mac & cheese.

4.8 from 8 reviews
(Lighter) Gouda Macaroni and Cheese
 
Print
Prep time
5 mins
Cook time
20 mins
Total time
25 mins
 
A lighter recipe for Macaroni and Cheese using Gouda. It's creamy, lower in calories and kid and family friendly.
Author: SpicieFoodie.com & Nancy Lopez-McHugh
Recipe type: Pasta, Noodles, Kid Friendly, Light, Fast, Easy
Cuisine: American
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients
  • 1 bag (400 g) macaroni noodles
  • 100 gm Gouda, shredded
  • 1¼ cup or 300 ml whole milk
  • 40 g or 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • pinch of salt, extra if desired
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp flour
Instructions
  1. Cook the macaroni noodles according to package instructions. While the noodles are boiling start the sauce. In a large pot melt the butter, once melted saute the onion until soft and translucent. Add the flour and stir until it forms a roux (thick paste). Pour half a cup of milk into the pot and stir until well combined. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and the ground black pepper into the pot, stir well. Add the shredded cheese and a little more of the milk. Continue stirring as the cheese begins to melt. Pour the rest of the milk and continue stirring until the cheese completely melts and the cheese sauce forms. Taste again and adjust salt if necessary.
  2. Mix the cooked and drained macaroni into the pot, be careful not to overspill. Continue mixing until all the noodles are well coated with the sauce. Serve right away.
Notes
!--Cheese is salty so hold off on adding too much salt at the beginning of cooking. Check sauce again before adding noodles to it and adjust f needed.
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Lighter Gouda Macaroni and Cheese by Spicie Foodie

The result is a creamy sauce that coats the noodles without having them swimming in it. I’ve been cooking our macaroni and cheese this way for about two years. It is one of our favorite meals and also the base for one of my husband’s famous recipes. (I’ll share his recipe soon.) If you must have a cheesier meal then you could of course double the sauce ingredients…I have yet to do so. The recipe can be served as a meal for two or as a side dish for four. Additionally you could swap out the Gouda for Cheddar or any other firm to semi-firm cheese.

Lighter Gouda Macaroni and Cheese by Spicie Foodie

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Filed Under: American, Holidays, Noodles/Pasta, Vegan/Vegetarian

« Sunday Snapshots: This Week’s Market Finds
Are Green Potatoes Safe? Plus A Winner & Fun Gifts »

Comments

  1. Rosa says

    December 10, 2012 at 12:22

    Great gifts! I need reflectors…

    That mac & cheese looks wonderful!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  2. Nandita says

    December 10, 2012 at 13:24

    Your version of mac and cheese looks so yum Nancy!! I am drooling at your pictures :)

    Reply
  3. Ramona says

    December 10, 2012 at 17:42

    I was just thinking mac and cheese for my kid’s dinner. This would be a really welcome version. :)

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      December 10, 2012 at 20:55

      Enjoy it Ramona. :)

      Reply
  4. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

    December 10, 2012 at 18:16

    Have you ever tried this with smoked gouda? I can’t wait! :)

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      December 10, 2012 at 20:56

      You know I haven’t. I’m not sure why because smoked cheese is so popular here. Thanks now I have to give it a try soon.:)

      Reply
    • Ian Dixon says

      December 11, 2012 at 09:45

      Then there is oud (old), jong (young), mustard in fact loads especially with access to a decent cheese shop selling Dutch cheeses

      Reply
  5. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

    December 10, 2012 at 18:30

    Light, yet very flavourful. I love it.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      December 10, 2012 at 20:56

      Thanks Angie!

      Reply
  6. Alyssa (Everyday Maven) says

    December 10, 2012 at 18:36

    When my cousin and her husband were living in Spain last year and she was pregnant, that was her one big craving too! I sent her boxes and boxes of the organic Annie’s mac n’ cheese – so funny! This looks delicious Nancy :)

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      December 10, 2012 at 20:56

      Hi Alyssa,
      That’s too funny and how sweet are you for sending her all those boxes. Thanks!:)

      Reply
  7. frida says

    December 10, 2012 at 18:53

    Will be making this really soon. The kids and I love Mac&cheese, but it has to be home made, after you make it once the box thing it’s just not good enough. I usually make it with a sharp Cheddar and
    mix Munster, mozzarella, even Chihuahua asiago, cream cheese but haven’t tried Gouda.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      December 10, 2012 at 20:57

      That’s true homemade is just so much better. Plus as you said you can try all sorts of cheese combos. All of yours sound really good. Thanks!:)

      Reply
  8. Hester @ Alchemy in the Kitchen says

    December 10, 2012 at 20:59

    Nancy, after tasting so many rich foods these past few days, this is exactly what I am craving! Delicious photos.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      December 10, 2012 at 23:19

      Thanks Hester and enjoy!

      Reply
  9. Evelyne@CheapEthnicEatz says

    December 11, 2012 at 01:09

    Mac and cheese is so easy to make at home, you just have to do it once to realize it. I think you perfected your recipe and gouda is such a great choice.

    Reply
  10. Juliana says

    December 11, 2012 at 01:27

    Nancy, I love the idea of light…and sounds and looks delicious. Your pictures are always so tempting.
    Have a great week!

    Reply
  11. anna says

    December 11, 2012 at 05:29

    gouda is so delicate and delicious. this looks great.

    Reply
  12. mjskit says

    December 11, 2012 at 05:36

    My husband showed me #5 gift the other day and asked if I could use it. Well – DUH! :) I know what you mean about missing food. A friend of mine in New Orleans ships me a care package from Louisiana each year and I ship a care package of New Mexico chile to a friend that used to live here in NM. I think it’s funny that one the things you miss the most is macaroni. It wouldn’t be the first thing on my list, but now that you mention it, mac & cheese would definitely be missed. I love that you used Gouda!!!!

    Reply
  13. Lisa H. says

    December 11, 2012 at 06:27

    Simple and delicious :D

    Reply
  14. Andrea says

    December 11, 2012 at 08:23

    I really want to try this recipe, but I don’t have a kitchen scale and the only conversion is the cheese. Do you know how many cups (etc.) that is?

    Reply
  15. Ashley - Baker by Nature says

    December 12, 2012 at 01:41

    Your photos are just stunning! I love making mac and cheese with gouda – your recipe sounds perfect for indulging on the lighter side.

    Reply
  16. Katsu says

    December 12, 2012 at 03:36

    (I used about a cup of shredded smoked Gouda.) It wasn’t quite as light as I hoped. I think I’ll reduce the butter and use nonfat yogurt or sour cream instead– I longed for some kind of tang. I also used smoked salt and teeny bit of nutmeg. It definitely inspired me to make it and continues to inspire me, thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  17. Sandra says

    December 12, 2012 at 04:48

    Good tip about holding off on the salt and I’d love any of those gifts.

    Reply
  18. Kavi | Foodomania says

    December 12, 2012 at 05:33

    I am madly in love with the photographs you post!! Every single one of them makes me wanna cook immediately!! Love this cheeeesy goodness! :)

    Reply
  19. yummychunklet says

    December 12, 2012 at 05:47

    Ooh, Gouda sounds delicious in this lighter version!

    Reply
  20. Jayne says

    December 12, 2012 at 07:11

    This seems so so easy. I’ve always been a little vary of making them because I’m afraid of getting really gloopy sauce and mushy pasta. Perhaps it isn’t that difficult after all.

    Reply
  21. Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says

    December 12, 2012 at 15:02

    So beautiful–the photos AND the recipe! :D I grew up on the boxed mac & cheese and I still find myself craving it sometimes for nostalgia’s sake, but nothing beats the homemade kind.

    Reply
  22. Nami | Just One Cookbook says

    December 13, 2012 at 08:40

    My kids love only homemade macaroni and cheese and your choice of gouda is the best!

    Reply
  23. Patty says

    December 15, 2012 at 16:32

    I wish we lived closer so we could share a meal of mac & cheese! I’ll bring the green salad and you can teach me how to take gorgeous photos!!!! I think that’s a good idea;-)

    Reply
  24. Magic of Spice says

    December 22, 2012 at 02:53

    I am absolutely positive that this is nothing like the boxed version, lol. But I bet it is strange the things that you would miss if you could no longer get them. Looks and sounds delicious!
    I know I have more to catch up on but I have to get back to work…I’ll be back :) Big hugs!

    Reply
  25. Adele Forbes says

    January 31, 2013 at 01:12

    Nancy, Gouda is one of my favorite cheeses and I have never used it in a macs & cheese. I look forward to trying this, I know it will make my husband very ecstatic.

    Reply

Trackbacks

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