Luby’s is back! Okay, the long-time Texas cafeteria chain never really went away, but they had filed for bankruptcy and all of their locations were going to shutter by the end of Summer. But the remaining locations have been bought up and now those Lu-Ann platters will keep on coming! And whether it is a coincidence or not, I’ve noticed that the freezer section at my local HEB now has single-serving Luby’s items and just recently I picked up the Jalapeno Macaroni and Cheese.
For quite some time now, Luby’s fried fish and macaroni and cheese has been available in the frozen food section in family size portions. This is the first time that I have seen the individual portions, though apparently they have been around for at least a couple of years. Other options include the regular mac and cheese, turkey tetrazzini, and broccoli rice casserole. I of course had to grab the jalapeno mac and cheese because I love their mac and cheese and rarely see the kicked-up version available in the cafeteria line.
Luby’s macaroni and cheese is a classic among classics and a quintessential rendition of that comfort food staple. Now you have to understand that this is not gourmet dining and there’s no Pecorino-Romano cheese added or a drizzle of truffle oil on top or any other high falutin ingredients. This is Macaroni and Cheese. Its made with American cheese and maybe a little bit of cheddar or other familiar fromage and it delivers ooey, gooey, creamy goodness. And the macaroni is cooked just right so that they deliver a nice chew and act as a perfect vessel for the mild yet tasty cheese sauce. It’s pure Comfort Food 101 and it counts as an all-time Texas classic.
The jalapeno version kicks that up a bit with some chopped up jalapenos and also some red peppers. That does not turn this into a fiery dish, but it does add some burn to the classic, pushing it just a little bit beyond the mild heat level. (If you want it a little hotter, Tabasco pairs perfectly with it.) And even though this is a frozen meal, the freezing process does not change the flavor or textures much, perhaps because it is such a simple dish in the first place. Other frozen mac and cheese that I have bought from the store I usually have to gussy up some with extra cheese or other add-ons. But the Luby’s version is straight from the box to the microwave to my mouth.
Now that Luby’s will remain open, you can go get their macaroni and cheese any time you want, and it is usually best off the steam-tray line (along with a piece of thier square fried fish). But you don’t loose much in translation with the microwave version, so if you want to have a box or three at the ready in the freezer, these will certainly satisfy (and it is a hefty meal at 490 calories). And since the jalapeno version is not always available at the cafeteria, you should be able to find it in the frozen food isle in your local HEB (and perhaps other grocers) if you are in Texas (not certain how widely available these are out of the state).
Tale of the Tape:
Serving Size: 1 Bowl (284g)
Calories: 490
Fat: 25 (10g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 18g
Carbs: 47g
Sodium: 1410mg