Name: Mac & Cheese - creamy baked pasta with cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 portions
Ingredients: 350 g macaroni; 1 tablespoon salt; 2 l water; 50 g butter; 40 g plain flour; 500 ml milk; 200 g cheddar cheese; 100 g gouda cheese; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 pinch nutmeg; black pepper; 50 g breadcrumbs; 20 g butter; 50 g cheddar cheese; butter

Step by step process

Preparation

1
Grate all cheeses finely and measure the prepared amounts of butter and all-purpose flour.
2
Preheat the oven to 200 °C if you plan to bake the Mac & Cheese.

Cooking

3
Pour 2 liters of water into a large pot, bring to a boil, add 1 tablespoon of salt, and add the macaroni. Cook according to package instructions until al dente, then drain.
4
In a saucepan, melt 50 g butter, add 40 g of flour and, stirring constantly, make a blond roux (about 1 minute). Then slowly pour in 500 ml of milk and whisk continuously until a smooth béchamel forms.
TIP:
Gradually add the milk and whisk thoroughly until the sauce thickens. Heat the milk first, and whisk to prevent lumps.
5
When the sauce thickens, remove it from the heat and stir in the grated cheddar and gouda (reserve 50 g of cheddar for the crust). Season with salt, add a pinch of nutmeg and ground black pepper to taste.
6
Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix well. Transfer the mixture into a baking dish lightly greased with butter.
7
In a frying pan, melt 20 g butter, add the breadcrumbs and toast until golden. Stir in the remaining grated cheddar and evenly sprinkle this mixture over the pasta in the baking dish.
8
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes until the top is golden and crispy. If you don't want to bake, sprinkle the toasted breadcrumb mixture over the pasta and serve.