Romanian Mac and Cheese (Romanian Pasta)

Classic Romanian mac and cheese with feta made with only three ingredients in a skillet. Served with or without sugar.

Romanian mac and cheese or macaroane cu branza, this pasta dish is one of the most popular Romanian comfort foods, especially among kids.

Macaroni and cheese, comfort food all around the world, there must be a billion recipes and variations out there. Why another one? Well, you have to know the Romanian version as well.

It is slightly different than the creamy American version, it is made in a cast iron skillet, and the cooked macaroni mixed with cheese are lightly fried before serving. And the best about the recipe? You serve the noodles sprinkled with sugar! Heaven for any child! Sugar for lunch!

This Romanian pasta dish was one of my favorite meals as a child. We didn’t have noodles often in Romania during those times, actually I can only remember eating pasta in three variations: this recipe, sweet noodles cooked in milk, and the unbelievably overcooked noodles my grandma sometimes made as a side dish for stew.

Ingredients

Pasta:

• Traditionally, this pasta dish is made with elbow macaroni, often called melcisiori in Romania.
• However, any short shaped pasta si fine.

Cheese:

• My grandmother used to always make this dish with telemea – that is a Romanian kind of feta, made of cow’s or sheep’s milk. It comes in big white blocks and has different degrees of saltiness and creaminess. Feta is a very close substitute, either cow or sheep feta.
• But whatever you do, use feta from a block, not the already crumbled kind.
• Alternatively, use Gouda or Cheddar instead. Not traditional and definitely another flavor, but good! I’ve done it and it tastes great!
• I’ve also cooked this dish with different kinds of cheese rests I found in the fridge as well. It is cheese, after all, you cannot really go wrong!

Sugar:

• Why the sugar? No idea!
• But the sugar makes this dish something special, the contrast between the salty cheese and the sweet sugar.
• It is optional but so good! Try it first to see if you like it. I grew up with it and I adore it but don’t sprinkle your whole plate with sugar before trying it first on a smaller portion.
• I am sure your kids will love the sugary noodles, this is definitely children’s food.

How to make macaroane cu branza?

• Cook the noodles according to the packet’s instructions, drain them.
• Add them to a cast iron pan, mix with the crumbled (grated) cheese.
• Fry in a bit of oil until you get those crispy and delicious golden brown spots here and there.
• That is the big secret of my grandma’s mac and cheese: those crispy brown spots, the contrast between the soft comforting noodles and those crunchy and hearty brown spots! And the sugar!

Traditional Romanian comfort food:

Sarmale – Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Potato Moussaka

Romanian Meatball Soup

Stuffed Peppers with Mince in Tomato Sauce

Sarmale – Stuffed Cabbage Rolls