Ingredients
Bread Crumb Topping
1/3 cup plain bread crumbs
1 tablespoon unsalted butter , melted
Macaroni and Cheese
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese (3 ounces)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon table salt plus an additional 1/2 teaspoon
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon powdered mustard
2 1/2 cups skim milk
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (optional)
Instructions
For the Topping:
1. Toss bread crumbs with butter in small bowl until combined. Set aside.
For the Macaroni and Cheese:
2. In food processor or blender, process cheddar, Parmesan, and ricotta until no large pieces of cheese remain, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl and set aside.
3. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat broiler. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in Dutch oven over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon salt and macaroni and cook until tender, 7 to 9 minutes. Drain macaroni and leave in colander.
4. In now-empty Dutch oven, heat butter over medium-high heat until foaming. Add flour and mustard and cook, whisking to combine ingredients, until mixture is smooth, about 1 minute. Whisking constantly, slowly add milk and Tabasco, if using, and bring to full boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, whisking frequently, until mixture becomes slightly thicker than heavy cream, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Whisk in cheese mixture and 1/2 teaspoon salt until cheese is melted. Add pasta and cook, stirring constantly, over medium-low heat, until mixture is steaming, 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Transfer mixture to broilersafe 8-inch-square baking dish and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Broil until crumbs are deep golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes, rotating pan if necessary for even browning. Cool 2 minutes. Serve.
