Trinidad Macaroni Pie (recipe)

 

 

Trinidad Macaroni Pie. I had often wondered if there is such a thing in a definitive sense, however I have gotten so many hits with that as a search term that I now have to believe that there is. Coupled with the fact that my Jamaican mother does not make this dish more than once a leap year (and when she does she does in a -very- different manner) and I have to believe that Trinidad Macaroni pie is indeed not universal in nature.

This dish is a traditional part of the Trinidadian Sunday lunch and is also offered in cubed form at BBQs and other casual outdoor functions. Feel free to play around with the proportions. A sprinkling of parsley on top after it comes out of the oven, though not traditional, adds a dash of colour and enough appearance of ‘nutrition’ to soothe any guilt you may have over the comforting (but over the top) fatty starchy content 😆

Trinidad Macaroni Pie

(Adapted from a recipe in the Naparima Girls’ High School Cookbook)

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 pk macaroni (what we call macaroni in Trinidad is sold as bucatini elsewhere)
2 eggs
1/2 lb cheddar cheese, grated
28-32 oz. evaporated milk
1 onion, finely minced
1/2 scotch bonnet pepper, finely minced
salt
pepper

METHOD:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Boil macaroni in salted water
3. Beat eggs, combine in large bowl with onion, pepper, cheese, salt, pepper, and evaporated milk

4. Drain macaroni and let cool

5. Combine macaroni with egg mixture.
6. Pour everything into a baked oven-ready dish
7. Bake for 30-40 minutes
8. Let cool/set 15-20 minutes before serving

Makes 8 servings