Arancini Style Pepperoni Mac & Cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat an oven and a deep fryer to 375°F.
  2. Cook elbow pasta according to box instructions, and transfer to a half hotel pan.
  3. Chop Liguria Artisan Pepperoni into large chunks. Render the pepperoni in a medium saucepan. Set the burner to medium high heat, add butter and flour to the rendered pepperoni, whisk until smooth. Cook the flour mixture for 2 minutes. Whisk milk into the flour mixture, season with salt, pepper, and bring to a light boil. Reduce to a simmer, whisking gradually until sauce thickens.
  4. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in all cheeses into the sauce. Fold the sauce into the pasta and bake in the oven for 7 minutes or until the top is golden. Refrigerate the cooked pasta for 4 hours or overnight.
  5. Transfer the chilled block of mac & cheese to a cutting board. Cut the arancini into 1-inch by 1-inch cubes.
  6. Using the standard breading procedure, dredge the cold arancini cubes into the seasoned flour, then the eggs, and then into the panko breadcrumbs.
  7. Fry the arancini cubes for 3 minutes or until golden brown; top each arancini with microgreens before serving.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Elbow macaroni, dry
  • 1 cup Liguria® Artisan Pepperoni, chopped
  • 1/2 cup flour, all-purpose
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 24 fl. oz. milk, whole
  • 1/4 cup white cheddar cheese, grated
  • 3 1/2 cups cheese, mozzarella, grated
  • 1 1/2 cups cheese, Parmesan , grated
  • 1/4 cup cheese, provolone, grated
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 3 ea. egg(s), whisked
  • 1 qt. flour, seasoned
  • 1 qt. panko breadcrumbs
  • oil, vegetable, for frying
  • microgreens, as needed, for garnish