Macaroni Cheese 🧀🍝
A quintessential British comfort food, macaroni cheese is creamy, cheesy, and absolutely delicious. Whether you're after a quick lunch or a hearty dinner, this dish never fails to satisfy. The secret is in the rich, velvety cheese sauce and the perfectly cooked pasta.
Ingredients:
🍝 Macaroni pasta: 250g
🧈 Butter: 50g
🧄 Garlic (optional): 1 clove, minced
🥄 Plain flour: 2 tbsp
🧴 Whole milk: 300ml
🧀 Cheddar cheese (mature): 200g, grated
🧂 Salt: 1 tsp
🌰 Mustard powder: 1/2 tsp (optional, but adds depth)
🧂 Black pepper: to taste
🌰 Breadcrumbs: 50g (for topping, optional)
🧴 Olive oil: 1 tbsp (for greasing)
Method:
🍝 Cook the pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water. Add the macaroni and cook for 8–10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
🧈 Make the cheese sauce: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. If using garlic, add it in now and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the flour and cook for about 1–2 minutes to form a roux (this will thicken the sauce).
💧 Add the milk: Gradually pour in the milk, whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Keep stirring until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, around 4–5 minutes.
🧀 Add the cheese: Lower the heat and stir in the grated cheddar cheese until melted. Season with mustard powder, salt, and black pepper to taste.
🍝 Combine the pasta and sauce: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring until the pasta is well coated. If the sauce seems too thick, you can add a little more milk to reach your desired consistency.
🌰 Add the breadcrumb topping (optional): If you like a crispy topping, sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the top of the macaroni cheese. You can also drizzle a little olive oil over the breadcrumbs for extra crunch.
🔥 Grill the mac and cheese (optional): Place the dish under the grill (broiler) on medium heat for 3–4 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling.
🍽️ Serve and enjoy: Dish up your creamy macaroni cheese and enjoy the cheesy goodness!
Serving Information:
⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes | 🍳 Cooking Time: 20 minutes | 🍴 Servings: 4 | 🔥 Calories: ~400 per serving
Indulgent, cheesy, and full of flavour – this macaroni cheese is the ultimate comfort food!