Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

For 4 portions

• 🍝 350g macaroni (dry)
• 🧈 50g butter
• 🌾 50g flour
• 🥛 750ml milk
• 🧀 250g cheddar cheese
• 🧀 20g parmesan cheese
• 🥣 1 Tsp mustard
• 🌿 1 pinch nutmeg
• 🧂 1 Tsp salt
• 🌿 0.25 Tsp black pepper
• 🍞 30g dried breadcrumbs

Method

1. Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Grate the cheddar.
2. Cook the macaroni in plenty of salted boiling water for 2 minutes less than the packet says, so it doesn't go soft in the oven. Drain.
3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring, without letting it brown.
4. Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the milk a little at a time until smooth. Put it back on the heat and bring to a simmer, stirring all the time, then cook for 3–4 minutes until it thickly coats the back of a spoon.
5. Take it off the heat and stir in the mustard, nutmeg, salt, pepper and 200 g of the cheddar until melted. The sauce should look generous: the pasta soaks some up in the oven.
6. Stir in the macaroni and tip it all into a baking dish of about 20 × 30 cm.
7. Mix the breadcrumbs with the rest of the cheddar and the parmesan, and scatter over the top.
8. Bake for 20–25 minutes until bubbling and golden. Leave to stand for 5 minutes before serving.