Writing this one quickly because I’m in an uber to one of my favorite restaurants in DC - Ox + Olive - for their restaurant week dinner.
They have an appetizer that I order every single time - mini hot dogs served with caviar on top.
This recipe can be elevated in the same way as you’ll see in the photo.
Ingredients
¾ box of pasta - shells or pipe rigate would be my shape of choice
½ block of velveeta (or 3 of the individually wrapped fresh packs)
2 tbsp butter
½ cup milk
2 30g tins of Imperial Caviar - I love Ossetra and Kaluga
salt + pepper to taste
Optional: bread crumbs, sharp white cheddar
Instructions
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook your pasta until al dente, read the package instructions and subtract 1-2 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain the rest
Cut the velveeta into small blocks. Put the cooked pasta back in your pot and turn the heat to low. Add in velveeta, milk, and butter. Stir then cover for a few minutes to let it melt. Stir again and add a splash of pasta water.
Once cheese is fully melted turn the heat off and season with salt and pepper to taste. Split into plates and serve unless you want to bake it!
Optional baking instructions: Mix 1 cup of panko bread crumbs with garlic salt and a tablespoon of olive oil. Preheat oven to 400° F.
Transfer to an oven safe baking dish and shred cheddar cheese over the top of the mac and cheese. Measure with your heart. Then sprinkle seasoned bread crumbs over that.
Bake for 5-8 minutes, until the cheddar is melted and the bread crumbs are golden brown.
Remove from the oven and serve!
To take things up a notch: serve with a couple tins of Imperial Caviar! This is a fun way to make my favorite comfort food a little more couture because life is too short to not be a little silly when we can. The creamy melty cheese pairs so well with the salty briny caviar.
Perfect for comfort food, dinner with friends, date night at home, a little celebration, or just because!
You can use the code HONEY15 for 15% more Imperia Caviar in your order.