Ultimate Mac 'n' Cheese

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cavatappi, macaroni, or other tube-shaped pasta
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, plus more for cooking pasta
• 3 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups dry white wine
• 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• 7 ounces gruyère, grated
• 3 ounces aged gouda, grated (see Notes)
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 tsp. minced fresh chives
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 4 ounces crusty sourdough bread (about 1/4 loaf), torn into large pieces

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 400°. Cook pasta according to package directions in a large pot of boiling, well-salted water until tender to the bite, 7 to 12 minutes. Drain, but do not rinse.
2. 2. In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, melt 2 tbsp. butter. Add shallots and cook until light golden, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle shallot-butter mixture with flour; cook, stirring often, 1 minute. Add wine and stir, picking up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add cream and stir well. Sprinkle in cheeses, one large handful at a time, stirring until each handful is mostly melted before adding the next. Stir in 2 tbsp. chives, mustard, 1/4 tsp. salt, cayenne, and nutmeg. Stir cooked pasta into cheese mixture, then pour all into a 2-qt. baking dish.
3. 3. In a food processor, pulse bread with remaining 1 1/2 tbsp. butter, 1 tsp. chives, and 1/4 tsp. salt until coarse bread crumbs form. Sprinkle bread crumbs over pasta and cheese and bake until top is browned and cheese is bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.