Food - Drink
The Canned Ingredient That Will Change Your Mac And Cheese Forever
By KALEA MARTIN
Sometimes the most delicious dishes are the ones with the simplest ingredients. Macaroni and cheese is a perfect example and although there is an option of turning it into a casserole and topping it with a layer of crunch, there is one special canned ingredient that can turn any mac and cheese into a more flavorful one.
A mac and cheese recipe can be elevated by adding condensed tomato soup, as Food Network personality Dan Langan has been preparing his dish this way since his childhood. To make this dish, simply combine a roux with a 10.75-ounce can of condensed tomato soup, stir it thoroughly, and then heat it through before adding the cheese and pasta.
Combining the acidic and sweet taste of tomatoes with the dairy’s fatty and salty taste provides a unique balance of flavor and umami. Samin Nosrat, author of "Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat," explained that tomatoes and dairy create the ideal amount of contrast in a dish, ultimately making it taste more complete.