Martha Stewart's Family-Favorite Mac And Cheese Has One Unexpected Addition - Tasting Table

"To make your next batch of mac and cheese as Stewart does, as she shared on Instagram, you need to add a common pantry staple: tomato paste. And you can do this with your favorite mac and cheese recipe, as long as it includes the step of making a cheese sauce. All you do is mix tomato paste into the cheese sauce until it's fully incorporated."

"The result is a light, salmon-colored cheesy sauce. The mac and cheese is rich, thanks to the cheese, milk, and butter that Stewart adds. However, it's also balanced thanks to the acidity and tang from the tomato sauce, which acts to slice through all that richness."

"Stewart's way of adding tomato paste to mac and cheese already elevates a classic, comforting dish, but there are always ways to upgrade an easy meal further. For example, if you're looking to add a little heat and umami to this dish, consider adding an Asian twist by incorporating gochujang or sriracha to the cheese sauce."

Martha Stewart's approach to mac and cheese involves incorporating tomato paste into the cheese sauce, a simple technique that transforms the classic dish. For a sauce made with 3 cups of milk and white cheddar cheese, she adds 4 tablespoons of tomato paste per pound of pasta. This creates a light, salmon-colored sauce that remains rich from cheese, milk, and butter while gaining balance from the tomato's acidity and tang. Stewart typically bakes the dish for 45 minutes, though stovetop cooking is an alternative for time-constrained preparation. Additional enhancements include incorporating gochujang or sriracha for heat and umami depth.

Read at Tasting Table