If you are ever lucky enough to be invited to a real traditional Caribbean dinner with locals, chances are there will be a huge casserole dish of what they call, “Macaroni Pie.” It is very similar to what my grandmother and mother would make, macaroni and cheese baked in the oven just enough to slightly brown. In both America and the Caribbean, this is total comfort food that both kids and adults love. It is a mainstay side dish and just about everybody’s mama has the best macaroni and cheese, and serves it up with a good portion of love. My mom knows when I’m down, a nice batch of macaroni and cheese is usually the medicine that will revive a broken spirit or leg. Well, macaroni and cheese and tapioca pudding, but I’ll save that secret pudding recipe another day.
The Caribbean moms have a few variations on the same basic theme. First and foremost, it does not come from a box. No, you must buy the elbow macaroni, make your own sauce and always bake it. I remember having the best macaroni pie, next to grandma’s, in St Martin and my friend was almost in tears begging for the recipe. No one down here actually writes this down, it’s just in their blood and they can make it with their eyes closed. Finally, I was given this recipe and shared it with my very grateful and no longer crying friend. Like in the Caribbean, I think it has become a traditional Sunday- dinner-at- home dish.
Interestingly, the islanders tend to stream a little catsup over the top of their pie for extra flavor and my sister-in-law always adds tuna to create a main dish versus the typical macaroni and cheese side dish. I have seen chopped onions, chives, peas, carrots and green pepper added, but I am a macaroni and cheese purist and prefer the simple pasta with cheese sauce, baked.
This fantastic Macaroni Pie recipe is very simple, quick and easy. This is the basic recipe, dress it up any way you like by adding bacon bits or even browned hamburger meat; the choice is yours. But trust me, this macaroni and cheese recipe is delicious just the way it is. One thing that makes the consistency a little different in the islands is that they cook their pasta longer, making it much softer than we would in the United States. Therefore, their pie can be cut in large free-standing squares and holds together well.
Macaroni Pie Recipe
16 ounces elbow macaroni
16 ounces Cheddar cheese, grated (about 4 cups)
2 cups milk, evaporated milk or half & half
3 eggs
salt and pepper to taste
Grease a 2 quart baking dish.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Boil a large pot of water with a pinch of salt. Once boiling, add the macaroni shells. Cook the macaroni according to the manufacturer’s instructions, for about 10 minutes, or until soft. (The macaroni will continue to cook in the oven.) You can use either the large or small elbow macaroni, I prefer the large shells, but this is up to your own preference.
Drain the macaroni shells in a colander, and pour it into a large bowl. Add the grated cheddar cheese to the pasta and stir to combine the two thoroughly.
Break the eggs into a medium sized bowl and whisk them lightly. Add milk to the eggs and whisk them together. Pour the milk and egg mixture over the macaroni, add salt and pepper to taste and stir to combine the entire ingredients well.
Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into a greased baking dish and bake in a preheated oven for about an hour, or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow the Macaroni Pie to rest for 15 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.
Cover the dish with foil if it begins to brown too quickly while baking.
If you are counting calories, substitute Skim Milk and/or Lite Cheddar Cheese to reduce the fat content, of course it won’t be quite as good, but it will still give you that “comfort food” feel.
Your family will be begging for this Macaroni Pie. Even though it is a simple, basic macaroni and cheese recipe, there is just something about it that everyone loves. Enjoy!
