Marja's Mac-and-Cheese

Name: Marja's Mac-and-Cheese
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 8 to 10
Ingredients: ¾ pound elbow macaroni; Extra-virgin olive oil (for drizzling); 1 ½ cups heavy cream; 1 cup half-and-half; 1 cup whole milk; 2 large eggs; ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg; ½ tablespoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon freshly ground white pepper; 1 ½ cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese (4 ounces); 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (4 ounces); 1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (4 ounces); 4 ounces cold cream cheese (cut into 1/2-inch cubes)

4,773 Ratings
2 Reviews

Jean-Georges Vongerichten is so fond of his wife Marja's ultrarich mac and cheese that it appears on the menu at the Mercer Kitchen, one of his New York restaurants. Marja makes the dish with four cheeses, from creamy Monterey Jack to extra-sharp cheddar. The most unusual touch: the cubes of cream cheese that melt on top. More Mac and Cheese Recipes

By Marja Vongerichten and Jean-Georges Vongerichten

June 2008

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Credit: Lucy Schaeffer

Recipe Summary

active:

30 mins

total:

1 hr 30 mins

Yield:

8 to 10

Directions

Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the macaroni for 3 minutes (it will still be very chewy). Drain the macaroni and return it to the pot. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and toss well.

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Step 2
Butter a 10-by-15-inch baking dish. In a large bowl, whisk the heavy cream with the half-and-half, milk, eggs, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stir in the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses and the macaroni. Spread the mac and cheese in the prepared baking dish and scatter the cream cheese cubes on top.
Step 3
Bake the macaroni for 5 minutes. Using the back of a large spoon, spread the melted cream cheese cubes evenly over the surface. Bake for 40 minutes, until bubbling.
Step 4
Remove the baking dish from the oven and preheat the broiler. Broil the mac and cheese about 3 inches from the heat source until richly browned, about 2 minutes. Let stand for at least 10 and up to 20 minutes before serving.

Make Ahead

The assembled mac and cheese can be refrigerated overnight. Bring to room temperature before baking, or add 15 minutes to the baking time.

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Woofgang

05/25/2019

This recipe is delicious! The only thing I do differently has to do with the placement of the cream cheese...I cut 1/8th to 1/4 " slabs of cream cheese and put just under the top layer of other cheese and sauce. That way, the cream cheese melts deliciously, but is not burned on top. With lasagna, I place it under the top layer of mix. With this mac and cheese, I sort of stir it lightly so the cream cheese isn't exposed, but still try to keep it close to the top.

Amanda

12/14/2016

It really is. People! Make this. You won't regret it!

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Marja's Mac-and-Cheese

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Recipe Summary

Ingredients

Directions

Make Ahead

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All Reviews for Marja's Mac-and-Cheese

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Marja's Mac-and-Cheese

Gallery

Recipe Summary

Ingredients

Directions

Make Ahead

Reviews (2)

All Reviews for Marja's Mac-and-Cheese