Corn Chowdah Mac 'n' Cheese

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• salt and black pepper
• 1 lb mezzi rigatoni pasta, penne rigate or 1 lb cavatappi pasta
• 4 ears corn, husked
• olive oil, for drizzling
• 1/4 lb bacon, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 baking potato, peeled and diced into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 tablespoon old bay seasoning
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 red chili pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped into 1/4-inch cubes
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 few sprigs thyme, chopped
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 grates fresh nutmeg
• 1 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
• 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Recipe

• 1 bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook to al dente. drain and return to the pot. while the pasta is working, position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the broiler. place a small bowl upside down in a large bowl. stand each ear of corn on the small bowl and scrape down the kernels.
• 2 heat a skillet over medium-high heat. add a drizzle of evoo and the bacon and cook until crisp. using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate.
• 3 add the corn, potato and old bay to the bacon drippings in the skillet and brown for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. add the celery, chile pepper, bell pepper, onion and garlic; season with the thyme, salt and pepper. cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 8 to 10 minutes.
• 4 meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. whisk in the flour, then the milk; season with the mustard, cayenne, nutmeg, salt and pepper. cook until the sauce coats a spoon thickly; lower the heat to low. stir in the parmigiano-reggiano.
• 5 add the corn-potato mixture and the sauce to the pasta in the pot and stir together. transfer to a casserole or serving dish, top with the cheddar and bacon and broil until brown and bubbly, 3 to 5 minutes. serve immediately.