Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Yummy, cheesy and delicious! A few years ago, I would not use these adjectives to describe Macaroni and Cheese. Sorry Mac n Cheese lover if I hurt your feeling but I could never enjoy the Macaroni and Cheese prepared using the packets available in grocery stores. And it showed in my preparation as I never really prepared it from the heart. But then I had a guilt pang when my boys enjoyed Mac n Cheese every time we went to Sweet Tomatoes or any other restaurants where Mac n Cheese was available. 

I saw this recipe in some recipe book. Changed it a little bit to adjust our taste and the result was so yummy that I now enjoy both preparing Mac n Cheese and eating it too! Do give it try and I am sure you will like it too. It is a definite hit at parties.

To prepare this recipe we will need- 

Milk- 4 cups

Butter- 6 tablespoon

Whole wheat flour or all purpose flour- 3/4 cup

Oil- 1 tablespoon

Macaroni- 1 packet (about 3 and 1/2 cups)

Red Chilli powder- 1 teaspoon

Black pepper powder- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon

Nutmeg powder- 1 teaspoon

Dijon Mustard- 1 teaspoon (optional)

Panko bread crumbs- 1 and 1/2 cup

Parmesan Cheese- 1/4 cup

Mozzarella Cheese- 1 cup

Cheddar Cheese- 1 cup

To cook Pasta-

• Boil water and cook 1 packet of Macaroni (which is about 3 and half cups) as per the instructions on the packet. It is normally around 10 minutes.
• Once it is cooked, strain it and then give it a cold water wash and then again strain and remove in a deep baking dish.

To prepare sauce-

• Warm 4 cups of milk.
• Heat 4 tablespoon butter in a pan and then add 3/4 cup of Whole wheat flour to it.
• Roast on low flame till the flour is light brown in color. Stir continuously.
• Add milk little at a time stirring continuously so that no lumps are formed.
• Once all milk is mixed, stir and let it come to boil. Keep the flame on low to medium heat.
• The sauce will start thickening up. Add 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese and 1 cup Cheddar Cheese and mix till all the cheese melts.
• Now it is time to add the seasonings. Add salt as per taste. 
• Add 1 teaspoon Paprika powder and 1 and 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper powder.
• Add 1 teaspoon of Dijon Mustard and grate half of nutmeg (or you can add 1 teaspoon of Nutmeg powder). Mix it well and let it cook for 1 minute and then remove it from flame.

To prepare topping-

• Heat a pan on low flame and then add 22 tablespoon butter and let it melt.
• Once the butter has melted, add 1 and 1/2 cups of Panko Bread crumbs. You can use home made bread crumbs instead of Panko style too.
• Toast the bread crumbs for 2-3 minutes and them remove and keep aside.

Now time to assemble. 

• First preheat the oven at 350 F/ 175 C.
• Take the cooked Macaroni in a deep baking dish.
• Add the Cheese sauce and mix well.
• Top it with the toasted bread crumbs.
• Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top if you like it.
• Bake it in the preheated oven on top rack for about 20 minutes.
• Serve hot and enjoy!

Please watch our YouTube video to see the process-

For video in English-

For video in Marathi-