The traditional Irish dish meets an American classic! Sautéed cabbage, leeks, onions, garlic and bacon are tossed with pasta and a delicious cheese sauce made with Wisconsin Havarti, Aged White Cheddar and Monterey Jack! It’s baked until golden brown and crispy.
Ingredients
8slicesthick-cut bacondiced
1large yellow onionthinly sliced
3garlic clovesminced
4cupsshredded cabbage
2leekssliced and cleaned
2large baking potatoescleaned and cooked until fork tender
1 1/2teaspoonssalt
1 1/2teaspoonsblack pepper
1/4teaspoonred pepper flakes
1/2teaspoonpaprika
3cupswhole milk
3tablespoonsbutter
3tablespoonsall-purpose flour
1cupWisconsin Monterey Jack cheeseshredded
1cupWisconsin Sharp White Cheddar cheeseshredded
1cupWisconsin Havartishredded
1/2cuppanko or plain bread crumbs
1/2cupscallionssliced
1poundelbow macaronicooked until tender
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cook the potatoes in the microwave, in the oven or in a pot of boiling water until fork tender. Allow to cool down completely. Peel with a pairing knife and shred with a box grater. Set aside.
Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy and browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels, to catch the excess fat. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease from the pot. Stir in the onions and garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add the cabbage and leeks. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt, 3/4 teaspoon black pepper, and the red pepper flakes. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes more until soft. Fold in the shredded potatoes and remove from heat. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
Place the milk in a medium saucepot and bring to barely a simmer, over medium heat.*
Return the large pot to the stove and place over medium-high heat. Add the butter and allow to melt. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 10 seconds to cook the flour a bit. Carefully pour in the warm milk, while whisking continuously until all of the milk has been added and the butter/flour mixture has completely dissolved. Lower the flame to medium and cook until thickened. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt, 3/4 teaspoon black pepper and the paprika. Once thick, remove from heat.
In a medium bowl, toss together the shredded Wisconsin cheeses. Add the cheeses to the hot thickened milk, reserving about 1/2 cup for topping later on. Stir with a wooden spoon, until the cheese has melted. Fold in the cooked noodles, the cooked cabbage mixture, the crispy bacon and the scallions, until evenly combined. Pour the mixture into a 9x13 baking dish or into individual baking dishes and top with the breadcrumbs and reserved cheese. Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, until bubbly. Place under the broiler for a few seconds to crispy up the top. Serve warm and garnish with sliced scallions on top. Enjoy!
Notes
*Tip: Warm up the milk in a saucepot before whisking it into the roux. This will allow the béchamel to cook more evenly and it’ll thicken faster!