Traditionally macaroni and cheese is a casserole that is baked in an oven. This American staple traces its roots to Northern Europe but doesn’t really have a clear source of origin.
With the first mac and cheese recipe wrote down as early as 1769, it been over two centuries that this creamy dish remains one of the most popular comfort foods in the country.
People like to make additions according to their taste and usually add meat and vegetables too. Some also like to add breadcrumbs to it before baking to get a crispy top.
But what is truly inspiring is that many celebrated chefs are beginning to take the original recipe and recreate it using their own innovation to make the very regular mac and cheese, food fit for fine dining.
PrintMac and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 14 oz macaroni
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 3/4 cup gruyere cheese
- 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese
- 4 tbsp. flour
- 4 tbsp. butter
- 4 cup milk
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1/4 tsp. Pepper
- 1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 360 degrees.
- Take a large bowl and combine all the cheese – cheddar, gruyere and mozzarella cheese together. Mix well and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat a large pot and add 1 tsp. salt to it and bring it to a boil. Add the macaroni al dente – you don’t want your macaroni to get soggy else the dish won’t taste at its best.
- Those that like to stick to the instructions on the pack, ditch the printed directives instead cook it a couple of minutes less than what you usually do. Once done drain the pasta and set aside.
- Take a large pot a melt the butter, quickly add the flour and whisk. Keep the flame medium-low and keep stirring as you smash flour lumps.
- Add the milk slowly, don’t keep down the whisk – yeah! whisk, away coz you don’t want any lumps to form.
- You wouldn’t mind burning a few calories if you want to eat a bowl of perfect mac n cheese. Cook for about 5 minutes till the mixture thickens and add the nutmeg powder.
- Pick your bowl of cheese and gradually add ¾ of it to the sauce. Whisk after each addition and wait till the cheese melts before you put in more cheese.
- Add salt and pepper as per your taste.
- Add the pasta to the sauce and mix well. Coat the macaroni in the cheesy mixture – the sight of dripping cheese makes your stomach grumble.Wait! It’s not done yet, transfer the mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 25 minutes or till the mac n cheese mix gets a nice golden colour.
- Your mac n cheese is ready to eat, dig in while it’s hot!
Notes
If you want to add other herbs or spices then you can go ahead and add them when you are seasoning the sauce.