

“There are so many variations in recipes, from country to country, village to village, even person to person, that it’s a bit ridiculous to think that certain recipes should be made one way and one way alone in order to be ‘authentic,'” Shareba writes in her unique recipe. Shareba now thinks that her sweet version of macaroni pie is just as legitimate as savory versions. An aunt adds ginger to hers, while a friend, Heather from Barbados, adds spicy English mustard and standard mustard, ketchup, onion and red pepper sauce to her version, sometimes adding bell peppers, breadcrumbs and butter. But Shareba acknowledged that a sweet Trinidadian macaroni pie is not very common.Īll the friends she surveyed said they made savory macaroni pie. Meanwhile, Trinidadian blogger Shareba of the In Search of Yummyness website wrote about her family’s macaroni pie being a sweet version with brown sugar and white pepper. Aside from her vegan and gluten-free substitutes, she likes to add green seasoning, paprika and pimento peppers to her version. “Like most Caribbean recipes, each Trinidadian will have their own way of making their pie,” Charla writes.

That Girl Cooks Healthy author Charla uses brown rice macaroni and flour, vegan cream cheese and regular cheese, and almond milk to make her gluten-free and vegan-friendly macaroni pie. Breadcrumbs are a common topper but you’ll also find gluten-free and vegan versions of this Caribbean macaroni and cheese casserole. Rigatoni or penne are other pasta substitutes for macaroni pie. “I plead with you, do not add this to your regular meal rotation,” she says in her own recipe, which you can watch unfold below. Ria does advise that this dish is best for special occasions because of how decadent and high in calories it is. She said no matter how you make it, no Trinidad cookbook or food blog is complete without a recipe for macaroni pie. Ria also has a friend who adds carrots to her dish. The video is also a no-egg version of Trinidad macaroni pie, though she says her mom highly recommends using eggs. mentions using bucatini cut up into smaller pieces if you can find it. In a Cooking with Ria vlog, Trinidad transplant Ria B.

He also uses bucatini, a long spaghetti-like pasta with a hole in the middle but he mentions that elbow macaroni is a common substitute. Common foods served alongside macaroni pie there include rice, stewed or baked chicken, plantains, sweet potatoes, salad, callaloo or stewed red beans.ĭe La Rosa’s Trinidadian macaroni pie has a sprinkle of paprika on top that’s baked into the dish.

And you’ll see variations on the recipe based on where exactly in the Caribbean you find yourself.Ĭhris De La Rosa of said that while macaroni pie wasn’t his favorite dish, it was a staple of Sunday lunch for his and most Trinbagonian families. Macaroni pie is not only a family meal staple in Trinidad but also neighboring Tobago and throughout the Caribbean. The Naparima cookbook version of Trini Macaroni Pie contains the essentials of this recipe: macaroni, eggs, cheddar cheese, evaporated milk, onion, hot pepper, salt and pepper, all baked together and served up in square slices. The most cited traditional recipe for Trinidadian macaroni pie comes from the essential Naparima Girls High School cookbooks, which are popular and commonly found in “Trini” homes. It also uses garlic and onion powder, Dijon mustard and fresh thyme leaves along with Scotch bonnet pepper (habanero peppers are a good substitute). The recipe uses tomato paste instead of ketchup, as is common in many Trinidadian recipes, and adds mozzarella cheese to the cheddar. The New York Times recently put its version of Trinidadian Macaroni Pie online. The cheese in this West Indies macaroni pie is also typically a sharp cheddar, also known as New Zealand cheddar or Trinidad cheddar. Traditionally, this take on macaroni pie includes less liquid and adds eggs, evaporated milk, spices, and Scotch bonnet pepper or Caribbean red pepper for serious elevation.
#Recipe for macaroni pie mac
But a unique and hearty take on mac and cheese comes in the form of macaroni pie, which is also known as baked macaroni.Ī firm and savory twist on this comforting classic that you might not have tried before is Trinidadian Macaroni Pie. Most often you’ll find it in a form of pasta with a creamy sauce. Macaroni and cheese recipes have seeped, like the ooey-gooey noodle dishes that they are, into the cuisine of many countries around the world.
