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Panera-Inspired White Cheddar Shells
Melissa Hart

Panera-Inspired White Cheddar Shells

White cheddar is the distinguishing flavor in this Panera-inspired bowl, while American cheese and evaporated milk give the sauce its unusually smooth body. Small shells trap sauce in their cups. Dijon stays below mustard territory and adds the quiet tang that keeps all that pale cheese from tasting flat.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 33 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz small pasta shells
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 can 12 oz evaporated milk
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • 8 oz white American cheese chopped
  • 8 oz extra-sharp white cheddar freshly shredded

Method
 

  1. Boil the shells in salted water until just tender, reserve 1 cup pasta water and drain.
  2. Melt the butter over medium-low heat, whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute without browning.
  3. Whisk in evaporated milk and whole milk and simmer gently for 3 minutes until lightly thickened.
  4. Remove from the heat and stir in Dijon, salt, white pepper, American cheese and white cheddar a handful at a time.
  5. Fold in the shells and loosen with reserved pasta water as needed; serve immediately.