Mac and cheese recipe

[AaaaaandBreathe]

Would anyone like to share their mac and cheese recipes?

I have tried different ways but it never seems to turn out very nice!

@TooMinty , how many eggs ?

This Beer Mac & Cheese is good.

DD wants me to make it, this thread is super helpful because I don't know where to start

Foolproof Delia Smith recipe from years ago. Instead of making your sauce in stages try putting all the ingredients in a pan together, including the cheese - make sure you add a knob of butter. You have to stand at the hob and keep whisking as it thickens. Once it’s thickened up, switch to a wooden spoon and simmer on a very low heat until the flour has cooked out. If you keep whisking you shouldn’t get lumps, but if you do, try whacking it into a blender or food processor - it might thin the sauce a little but it’ll get the lumps out.

Instant pot using evaporated milk, all the cheeses, mustard, S&P, nutmeg and you've got a very tasty, easy and moreish Mac n Cheese

Cook macaroni as per packet instructions with a veg stock cube dissolved in the water. Separately heat full tub soft cheese and add one or two ladles of pasta water, salt and black pepper to taste, two tablespoons of white wine vinegar, stirring until smooth. Add grated Parmesan and a packet of mixed mature cheddar and mozzarella stirring until melted. Drain pasta and combine. Serve. Or add to the top Panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan then bake.

Sounds fab. Might have to try that.

Everyone loves this, trust me.

Chop an onion, fry in oil/butter with salt and pepper and some chilli flakes. Chop up either some Brussels sprouts or a small cauliflower and add that to the pan. Fry until it all starts to caramelise a bit.

Cook your pasta.

Make a cheese sauce with loads of mature cheddar, a bay leaf, a good grating of nutmeg and a teaspoon of Dijon mustard. Mix that in with the pasta and onion mixture and - this bit is very important - a tin of good quality chopped tomatoes. Taste and then season again.

More cheese on top, shove in oven for 35 mins, finish off under grill.

It's absolutely bloody lovely.

I love Marmite. How much do you put in and when do you add it ?

White sauce with mozzarella mixed in with the cooked pasta, grated parmesan on top, oven for 40 minutes.
Controversial, I know, but it's an Italian dish and I really don't think Italians use much cheddar.

I had an American lodger who became obsessed with Marmite so her colleagues got her a marmite recipe book. There seem to be lots of slimming world type recipes using it as a substitute but I do the usual Roux, bit of English Mustard, about half a teaspoon of Marmite and BOOM! Umami goodness

You need pancetta lardons and sweetcorn in it and a crust of breadcrumbs and cheese on top

Adding haggis is good...... And I always double the cheese amount.

I fry some lardons and add those with some peas. I also grate extra cheese on the top together with some breadcrumbs. I always make my own cheese sauce and sometimes add a little Parmesan.

@whattodo87 , I make a cauliflower/macaroni cheese combo, too - a favourite in this house. Cauliflower cooked just al dente - 3 mins is enough, well drained, steam dried for a minute or two, mix all together, breadcrumbs and extra cheese on top, whack under the grill to brown.

@TooMinty I'm going to try your egg version. Does the egg not curdle?

Same here. I either can't get the proportions of sauce to pasta right, or the sauce is too thick or too thin and I hate making white sauce.

There's only me that likes it, so I'm thinking buying it on the odd occasion when I do want it might be the way to go.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/oct/06/how-to-cook-perfect-macaroni-cheese

But I think the secret is more cheese than you can think possible - english mustard powder and a crunchy topping help too.

It's macaroni cheese not mac and cheese...because I am that person.

I do one large egg per person usually

No, it kind of holds the pasta together - it's a more solid dish than the sauce method. I like tomato ketchup liberally applied on mine after serving 😊

I use this one but sub the water in it for chicken stock for extra flavour:

www.recipetineats.com/stovetop-macaroni-cheese/

@TooMinty thanks , will try that .