This creamy stovetop mac and cheese is a real indulgence you can whip up quickly and enjoy by itself or with a simple salad. A simple one-pot midweek meal that the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 50g butter
- 200g shallots, finely chopped
- 1-3 red chillies, chopped (to taste)
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 400g macaroni
- 1 litre milk
- 250ml water (plus a little extra if necessary)
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1-2 tsp dijon mustard (optional)
- 250-300g extra mature cheddar (to taste), plus extra to serve
Method:
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a low heat then add the shallots, cooking very gently for about 15 minutes until really soft but not coloured. Add the chilli and stir, cooking another minute. Stir through the flour, blending it well into the buttery shallots.
Tip in the macaroni and stir well, then pour in the milk and water. Season well with salt and pepper and stir through the mustard if you choose to use it. Bring up to the boil then reduce the heat to a steady simmer. Cook for about 12-15 minutes, stirring often (just like making a risotto) until the pasta is tender and the sauce thickened. It will still have a little liquid at this stage but will thicken with resting. If it seems a little dry, add a splash of extra water.
Turn off the heat and allow the macaroni to rest and cool for 5 minutes. Scatter over the cheese, stirring until its melted and serve immediately.
Resting the pasta before stirring through the cheese is an important step so don’t be tempted to skip it. If you add cheese to a sauce that is too hot, you run the risk of it turning a little granular, which won’t affect the taste of your mac and cheese but will affect the texture.
Recipe from ukshallot.com
The Independent
