Seafood Mac

Seafood Mac N Cheese

If you like seafood, cheese, and pasta you’ll love this version of Macaroni and cheese. My inspiration came from a restaurant we visit about once a year. We have tasted their version but mine is legal in the bariatric world.

Ingredients

4 oz cream cheese

12 oz (1- 1/2 cups) cheddar, gruyere, havarti or gouda

4 oz parmesan cheese

1 T old bay

¼ tsp white pepper

1/8 tsp nutmeg

½ - ¾ cup of half n half

½ red bell pepper (diced)

½ green bell pepper (diced)

½ onion (diced)

2 cloves garlic

4 oz lump or claw crab

½ lb. shrimp (peeled and deveined)

4 oz chickpea pasta

Salt and Pepper

1 T oil (coconut, avocado, olive oil)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook and drain pasta, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water.  In a skillet on medium heat, heat oil, add onion cook for 2 minutes then add garlic (do not brown).  Add bell peppers and cook until soft.  Add crab and shrimp.  Season with ole bay, salt and pepper, and cook for 3-4 minutes, remove from skillet and set aside.  In the same pan add cream cheese, and half n half.  Heat until cream cheese is melted.  Add nutmeg, white pepper and parmesan.  Mix well and add ½ cup (4 oz) of cheese until melted.  Once melted and smooth, add in seafood mixture and pasta.  Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray and add half if the mixture, layer with cheese add the remaining and finish with the cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.  Enjoy!