14 Ways People Make Mac And Cheese Around The World (Slideshow)
Requeijão, a brand of cream cheese spread, is the main ingredient Brazilians use in their mac and cheese to make it an especially creamy dish.
Click here for the Brazilian-Style Mac & Cheese Casserole recipe
Egyptian Mac and Cheese
Known as "macaroni béchamel," traditional Egyptian mac and cheese calls for ground meat baked between two layers of macaroni and covered in béchamel sauce (a mixture of butter, flour, and milk) and cheese.
Finnish Mac and Cheese
In Finland, mac and cheese, called "makaronilaatikko," is made with ground beef, onion, and cheese. Milk and eggs are added to give it a custard-like consistency. The dish is often eaten with ketchup, and traditionally, milk and eggs are used instead of cheese.
Click here for the Finnish Macaroni Casserole (Makaronilaatikko) Recipe
German Mac and Cheese
Käsespätzle, the German version of mac and cheese that is also enjoyed in Austria, is traditionally made simply with cheese and caramelized onions.
Greek Mac and Cheese
The Greeks enjoy two traditional versions of mac and cheese. One version, known as pastitsio, is made with layers of cheese and ground lamb and is topped with béchamel sauce (a mixture butter, flour, and milk). The other version, "Makaronia ograten," is essentially a meatless version of pastitsio.
Click here for the Pastitsio recipe
Click here for the Makaronia Ograten: Cheesy Baked Pasta recipe
Hungarian Mac and Cheese
Hungarian mac and cheese, known as "túrós csusza," can be prepared either as a savory meal or as a sweet dessert. As a meal, this mac and cheese dish is traditionally made with bacon, sour cream, and cottage cheese and is sometimes topped with lecsó, a mixed vegetable dish. As a dessert, sugar is substituted for bacon and salt.
Indian Mac and Cheese
In India, mac and cheese, what Indian people call "desi mac," is made with tomatoes, haldi (turmeric), garlic, dhania (cilantro leaves), and cheese.
Indonesian Mac and Cheese
Often referred to as "macaroni schotel," Indonesian mac and cheese consists of egg, milk, cheese, some kind of meat like sausage, ham, beef, chicken, or tuna, and sometimes potato.
Italian Mac and Cheese
"Quattro formaggi," which translates literally to "four cheese," is a classic Italian mac and cheese dish made with ziti and, as the name suggests, four different kinds of cheese.
Click here for the Macaroni Quattro Formaggi with Prosciutto recipe
Maltese Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese, called "Imqarrun il-forn" in Malta, has long been one of the most popular pasta dishes on the islands. It's usually made with minced beef or pork (or both), a Bolognese sauce, egg, and cheese.
Russian Mac and Cheese
Russians like to add plenty of vegetables to their mac and cheese, giving it a ton of flavor in addition to cheesiness.
Spanish Mac and Cheese
In Spain, cheese isn't the main ingredient in mac and cheese. The Spanish version is typically made with pork sausage, tomato sauce, and onion and then topped with grated cheese.
Swedish Mac and Cheese
"Makaronipudding" sounds like pudding but is a Swedish version of mac and cheese that is commonly made with ham, leek, and cheese.
Swiss Mac and Cheese
Made with either Emmental cheese or Appenzeller cheese, Swiss mac and cheese, called "Älplermagronen," generally consists of cream and roasted onions. In some regions of Switzerland, bacon, ham, or potatoes are added.
Click here for the Aelplermagronen (Swiss Pasta) recipe