An American classic Mac and Cheese combines with kimchi and gochujang for a fun Asian twist, filled with gooey Tillamook Sharp White Cheddar & Medium Cheddar blocks and rolled into a ball and fried for the perfect crispy appetizer.
Bring 3 quarts of salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add pasta, then cook until al dente (2 minutes less than package directions).
In a deep nonstick skillet or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the kimchi, gochujang, and kimchi juice and mix. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the flour and cook for an additional 2 minutes, whisking to remove any lumps.
Add the half and half, garlic powder, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium high and cook for 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened, whisking occasionally to make sure there are no lumps.
Tip: Ensure that the sauce is not too hot before adding the cheese. If the sauce is too hot the cheese will split and become grainy.
Turn off the heat and let the sauce cool for 5 minutes. Reserve 2 cups of the mixed cheese as a topping, then add the remaining cheese a few handfuls at a time, whisking so that the cheese fully melts before adding the remaining cheese. Add the pasta and stir to combine with the cheese sauce.
To a greased 9x13 baking dish, add the pasta and top with the reserved cheese. Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden. Once cooled, place the mac and cheese in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight to cool.
Once the mac and cheese has cooled, scoop the mac and cheese into 4-ounce balls and pack tightly with your hands. Dredge the balls in flour, then beaten egg, and then panko breadcrumbs.
Heat a large pot of oil to 350°F and fry the balls in batches for 4-5 minutes until crispy.
Let cool and enjoy!
Tip: Allow the mac and cheese to cool for at least 4 hours or overnight before assembling your cheese balls!
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Tillamook Whole Milk Mozzarella
Tillamook Sharp White Cheddar
Tillamook Medium Cheddar
Meet the chef
CJ Eats
Chris Joe is a third generation Chinese-American and self-taught home cook who inherited his passion for cooking and eating from his grandfather. With a focus on easy and approachable recipes for the everyday home cook, CJ left his full-time job in 2021 to share his favorite Asian inspired dishes and recipes with his audience. His friendly demeanor and simple approach in the kitchen has led him to amass an audience of over 1.6 million followers across Tik Tok and Instagram.
