Mac and cheese is a beloved comfort food that’s pretty straightforward to make, but adding a simple twist to the traditional recipe will elevate its flavour and texture. Incorporating a small amount of Dijon mustard can help balance out the flavours and add a slight tangy sharpness without altering the flavour. This easy-to-follow recipe for four combines rich, creamy cheese sauce with a perfectly baked breadcrumb topping.
Sharing the recipe online, Good Food said, “This perfect baked macaroni cheese recipe comes with a creamy cheese sauce, a hint of mustard and uses leftover French stick for its crunchy topping.” When prepared according to this method, this dish takes only 10 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
How to make homemade mac and cheese
Ingredients
- 50g baguette, cut into small chunks
- Two tbsp butter, plus one tbsp melted
- 350g spiral or other short pasta
- One garlic clove, finely chopped
- One tsp English mustard powder
- Three tbsp plain flour
- 500ml whole milk
- 250g vegetarian mature cheddar, grated
- 50g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), grated
Method
Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan) or gas mark six. Arrange the baguette pieces on a baking tray, drizzle them with melted butter, and season. Bake for six minutes, or until they become crisp, then set them aside.
Cook the pasta for two minutes less than the time indicated on the packet, then drain.
While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the garlic and English mustard powder, cooking for one minute. Stir in the plain flour and continue cooking for another minute. Gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring the mixture remains smooth and free of lumps.
Simmer the sauce for five minutes, whisking constantly until it thickens. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese along with half of the parmesan.
Mix the cooked pasta with the cheesy sauce and season to taste. Transfer the mixture into a large ovenproof dish or divide it into four individual portions.
Top with the crispy bread pieces and the remaining parmesan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the topping is golden and crunchy. This dish can be frozen before baking; just make sure to thaw it completely before cooking.
