Cheesy pasta meets spicy kimchi and crunchy sesame for bold, fusion comfort. Flavorful, creamy, and satisfying.
# Components:
→ Pasta
01 - 10.5 ounces elbow macaroni
02 - 1 tablespoon salt (for boiling water)
→ Cheese Sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
05 - 1.9 cups whole milk
06 - 5.3 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated
07 - 2.6 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
08 - 1.8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
09 - 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean chili paste)
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
13 - Salt, to taste
→ Kimchi Mixture
14 - 5.3 ounces well-fermented kimchi, chopped
15 - 1 tablespoon kimchi juice
16 - 2 spring onions, finely sliced
→ Topping
17 - 1.8 ounces panko breadcrumbs
18 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
19 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
20 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
# Preparation Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 390°F. Lightly grease a medium ovenproof baking dish.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook elbow macaroni until just al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
03 - In a medium saucepan over moderate heat, melt unsalted butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux.
04 - Gradually pour in whole milk, whisking constantly. Continue until mixture is smooth and thickened, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
05 - Reduce heat and stir in grated cheddar, mozzarella, and cubed cream cheese until all cheeses are melted and integrated.
06 - Mix in gochujang, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, and black pepper; season to taste with salt.
07 - Fold chopped kimchi, kimchi juice, and sliced spring onions into the cheese sauce.
08 - Add drained macaroni to the kimchi cheese sauce and mix well to ensure even coating. Transfer to prepared baking dish.
09 - In a mixing bowl, blend panko breadcrumbs, toasted sesame seeds, melted butter, and sesame oil. Distribute topping evenly over pasta.
10 - Bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until top is golden and sauce is bubbling. Allow to rest briefly before serving.
