Trinidad macaroni pie is a classic Caribbean comfort food that is not only easy to make, but delicious served hot, cold, or at room temperature. Serve it as a main dish for a simple lunch, or as a side dish with spicy stewed meats or fish like they do on the islands. I even love eating a cold square of macaroni pie for breakfast!
Pinchof cayenne pepper or a few shakes of hot sauce (preferably Caribbean hot sauce)(optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F with the rack in the center. Grease a 2 quart baking dish and set aside.
Cook the elbow macaroni in a pot of salted boiling water until just shy of al dente (about 5 minutes). Drain and return to the pot off the heat.
In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add the onion. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes or until translucent. Add the cooked onions to the pot of drained macaroni.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and the evaporated milk. Whisk in the sour cream (if using), dry mustard, salt, and pepper. Add to the pot of macaroni and give it a good stir. Add all but ½ cup of the grated cheddar to the macaroni, along with the scallions and hot sauce (if using) and stir to combine.
Pour into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the top with the reserved ½ cup cheddar cheese. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and edges are bubbly.
Cool the pie for 10 to 15 minutes, then cut into squares and serve. You can also enjoy the pie cold the next day, Caribbean style.
Notes
To freeze leftover macaroni pie, cut into squares, wrap individually with plastic wrap (to prevent freezer burn), and then store in freezer bags. To reheat frozen Trinidad macaroni pie, I recommend thawing the squares first and heating in a toaster oven or oven, or even a microwave will work fine. You can reheat from a frozen state but it may not reheat as evenly, and will take longer.
Adjust this recipe to suit your tastes. Swap the fresh onion/scallion with some onion and garlic powder instead. If you dislike onion, you can omit it along with the scallion. Skip the sour cream if you don't have it, or leave it in for another layer of flavor. You can also add grated carrot or finely chopped red peppers if you'd like for added flavor and color.
This is a great recipe for entertaining because you can make it ahead of time. Cut it into smaller squares and serve it with tongs or a small spatula or stick a toothpick into each square for easy grabbing. Serve it cold or at room temperature.