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Mini Pimento Mac & Cheese Bites

Creamy and cheesy bite size Mini Pimento Mac & Cheese Bites!

dapted from Alton Brown
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Vegetarian
Author Shelly Westerhausen

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound elbow macaroni , cooked al dente according to packaged direction
  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoon powdered mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1 large egg , lightly beaten
  • 8 ounces of cheddar cheese , shredded
  • 4 oz . diced pimento
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

For the toppings:

  • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 32 basil leaves
  • 32 pieces of pimento (can use roasted red pepper if you can’t find large enough pimento pieces for garnish)
  • 32 toothpicks
  • Hot sauce , for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 8 inch square baking pan.
  2. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and whisk constantly for two minutes. Next, slowly whisk in the milk until completely combined and no lumps are left. Add in mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika, and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for ten minutes, whisking often. Remove from heat.
  3. Next, temper the egg by adding a teaspoon of milk mixture to the egg at a time until it’s heated up. Whisk egg into milk mixture and fold in macaroni and pimentos. Transfer to prepared baking dish.
  4. In a small saucepan, melt the additional three tablespoons of butter over medium. Fold in the breadcrumbs until they are completely coated with the butter. Spread over macaroni and bake for thirty minutes.
  5. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Once cool, stick in the fridge for at least an hour or until thirty minutes before serving.
  6. When ready to serve, use a sharp knife to slice the macaroni into 2 inch squares and transfer to a serving tray. Top each square with a toothpick that has a basil leaf and pimento piece on it.
  7. Serve with hot sauce.