7 ounces kale, finely chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 cup 1% milk
⅔ cup Asiago cheese, grated
⅔ cup plus 2 tablespoons Parmesan, grated
1 cup extra sharp white cheddar, grated
15-ounce can cannellini white beans, drained and thoroughly rinsed
5 strips turkey bacon, cooked until crisp, and crumbled
3 tablespoons whole wheat Panko bread crumbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Boil a large pot of water. Salt the water and add the macaroni. Cook until almost al dente, about 6-7 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a small sauté pan over medium heat. Add the kale, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook until kale is softened, about 4-6 minutes.
Transfer the kale to a large casserole dish.
Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat. When the milk begins to simmer, but before it boils, turn off the heat. Immediately stir in all of the Asiago, ⅔ cup of the Parmesan, and all of the cheddar. Also stir in the beans and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Purée the cheese mixture using an immersion hand blender (or transfer mixture to a blender or food processor to purée).
Along with the kale, add the cooked macaroni, crumbled bacon, and the cheese mixture to the casserole dish. Gently stir until all ingredients are well combined.
In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons Parmesan, the bread crumbs, and ½ teaspoon olive oil. Stir until bread crumbs are well coated in oil. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top of the macaroni and cheese.
Bake the macaroni and cheese until bread crumbs are crisp and golden, about 15 minutes. Serve.