Ultra-creamy, cheesy and satisfying, there’s no finer comfort food than mac and cheese.
Well, it’s essentially exactly what it says on the tin: macaroni pasta mixed with cheese. Yet it’s done in a way that is seriously, seriously delicious.
Referred to as macaroni cheese in the UK, this filling and hearty cheat-day favourite is an iconic dish that has been enjoyed across the world for generations and generations.
In fact, some argue that it can be traced back to cookbooks from as early as the 17th century.
Now most associated with American cuisine, it’s a popular easy dinner and side plate that’s easy to whip up with minimal ingredients and hassle.
Even if your fridge is practically bare, you can still create a gloriously decadent vat of mac and cheese as long as you have pasta, cheese and milk.
Ideally, we also like to add a dash of cream to make it extra thick and indulgent, plus some garlic and onions for added flavour, too.
Give it a go next time you feel like treating yourself to a cosy and soul-soothing dinner that goes perfectly with a classic movie.
As mentioned above, the basis of mac and cheese is everyone’s favourite Italian staple.
In theory, you can use any kind of pasta, but there is something about the shape of macaroni that works extra well with this family-style recipe.
Our chef's top choice for mac and cheese is always De Cecco Chifferi Rigati. Narrow tubes that are bent in shape, its unique design means that it traps a little bit of your delicious cheesy sauce inside every piece. An Italian family company that has been making pasta since 1886, there’s no one better to trust with this essential ingredient than De Cecco.
Your choice of dairy products is just as crucial. It’s best to prepare your sauce with quality full fat milk like the one from French dairy specialist Paysan Breton, thick cream like Paysan Breton Cream 35% and, perhaps most importantly, a generous helping of your favourite cheeses.
We find that combining nutty Paysan Breton Emmental Cheese and strong cheddar cheese creates the most incredible mac and cheese in existence, but you can also mix it up and add other variations such as mozzarella, gouda, smoked gouda, swiss, monterey jack, gruyere or fontina cheese.
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