Ingredients
- 2 cups dry rotini pasta
- 1 15-ounce can low-sodium white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk, divided
- 2 teaspoons reduced-sodium Worcestershire sauce
- 6 ounces Gouda or Colby Jack cheese, grated
- 2 ounces Asiago cheese, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
- Sautéed broccoli, kale, spinach or bell peppers, for serving
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare pasta according to package directions without adding salt to the cooking water. Cook until al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain the pasta and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, purée the beans with 1/2 cup milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper until the beans are smooth.
Bring the remaining cup of milk and the puréed beans to a simmer. Add in the grated cheeses and stir until melted. Stir in the cooked pasta and pour into a small greased baking dish or cake pan. Bake for 20 minutes.
Spray a skillet with nonstick spray and toast the bread crumbs until golden. Sprinkle over top of the partially cooked macaroni and cheese and continue to bake an additional 10 minutes, until bubbly and golden brown.
Serve with sides of broccoli, kale, spinach, or bell peppers to mix in with cooked Macaroni and Cheese.
Consider experimenting with reduced-fat cheeses, but expect to lose creaminess found in classic mac ‘n cheese casseroles.
Yield: 6 as a main course. Serving size: 1/6 of recipe.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Calories: 330 calories, Carbohydrates: 68 g, Protein: 19 g, Fat: 13 g, Saturated Fat: 7.5 g, Cholesterol: 49 mg, Sodium: 522 mg, Fiber: 4 g
Recipe courtesy of Jennifer Stack, RDN, CDE, from The Culinary Institute of American and author of The Diabetes-Friendly Kitchen cookbook.