Mac and Cheese with Crispy Cheese Topping
Ingredients
- 350g macaroni or any smallish pasta shape
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 200g bacon lardons or diced bacon
- 100g chopped chestnut mushrooms
- 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan or Pecorino
- 3 tablespoons Panko or bread crumbs
Cheese sauce
- 3 tablespoons plain flour
- 450ml milk
- 220g cheddar
Preparation
Cook the pasta for 7 minutes then drain.
If making the bacon version, add the bacon to a frying pan with 1 teaspoon oil and cook until crisp. If making the vegetarian version, use finely chopped mushrooms instead. Tip into a bowl.
Melt the butter in the same pan and add the garlic and mustard.
Add the flour and stir to make a paste then add half the milk. Stir then add the remaining milk. Keep stirring until the sauce becomes smooth.
Take off the heat and add pepper, the bacon or mushrooms, the cheddar and cooked pasta. Stir to combine.
Tip the mixture into an ovenproof dish and sprinkle over the Panko and Parmesan.
Bake for 20 minutes at 180°C fan until golden.
Tips
This Mac and Cheese can be made with any pasta shape and is adaptable for different needs.
Add bacon for meat eaters or mushrooms for vegetarians, and switch Parmesan for Pecorino if desired.
For the mushroom version, a drizzle of truffle oil enhances the flavor.
