Mac 'n' Cheese

Mac and cheese is a classic American comfort-food dish: tender macaroni in a rich cheese sauce, with a crisp crust from the oven.

Serves: 4
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking: 30 minutes
Total time: approx. 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 500 g macaroni
• Dash of olive oil
• 50 g butter
• 60 g flour
• 750 ml milk
• 250 ml double cream
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 sprigs of thyme
• 3 sage leaves
• ½ tsp nutmeg (freshly grated)
• 400 g grated Cheddar
• 200 g grated Gruyère
• 150 g breadcrumbs or panko
• 50 g grated Parmesan
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 220 °C conventional (or 200 °C fan).
2. Lightly grease a large baking dish with a little olive oil.
3. If needed, grate all the cheeses and set them aside.
4. Bring a large pan of generously salted water to the boil for the macaroni.

Method

1. Cook the macaroni
   Cook the macaroni in the boiling water for 1–2 minutes less than the time stated on the packet.
2. Drain and toss with oil
   Drain the macaroni, toss through a dash of olive oil so the pasta doesn’t stick together, and set aside.
3. Melt the butter
   Melt the butter in a large pan over a medium heat.
4. Make a roux
   Add the flour and stir well with a wooden spoon until a smooth paste forms. Cook gently for 2–3 minutes, without letting it brown.
5. Add the milk and cream
   Add the milk a little at a time while whisking vigorously, so no lumps form. Then add the double cream as well.
6. Add the bouquet garni
   Tie the bay leaf, thyme sprigs and sage leaves together into a bouquet garni (for example with kitchen string) and add it to the sauce.
7. Simmer the sauce gently
   Bring the sauce gently up towards the boil and simmer over a low heat for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is lightly thickened.
8. Remove the bouquet garni
   Remove the bouquet garni.
9. Melt the cheeses into the sauce
   Turn the heat to low (or off) and, stirring, add the Cheddar and Gruyère in batches until everything is melted and incorporated.
10. Season the sauce
    Season with the nutmeg and freshly ground pepper. Only now taste and add salt, if needed.
11. Mix the macaroni and cheese sauce
    Add the warm macaroni to the cheese sauce in the pan and mix everything well so all the pasta is coated.
12. Fill the baking dish
    Spoon the mixture into the greased baking dish and smooth the top.
13. Make the crumb topping
    In a bowl, mix the breadcrumbs (or panko) with the Parmesan, smoked paprika and a small dash of olive oil. Stir well so the crumbs become lightly moist.
14. Scatter over the topping
    Spread this mixture evenly over the mac and cheese.
15. Gratin in the oven
    Put the dish in the preheated oven and gratin until the top is golden brown and crisp (about 10–15 minutes, depending on the oven).
16. Let it stand briefly and serve
    Leave the mac and cheese to stand for a few minutes before serving, so the sauce can set slightly and neat portions can be spooned out.