Mac and Cheese with Bacon Cauli Crumb
The ultimately comforting mac and cheese meal for four! With a crispy cauliflower and bacon crumb and a soft and creamy pasta full of flavour. Easy to make and delicious to eat!Making it the perfect go-to meal for when you need something comforting for a wholesome homemade dinner.
Ingredients
- 400 g Dried Macaroni Pasta
- 50 g Butter
- 1 medium (130g approx.) Brown Onion finely diced
- 1 medium (300g approx.) Leek finely sliced
- ½ tsp (2g) Smoked Paprika
- 2 tsp (10g) Garlic Powder
- 2 tbsp (20g) Flour
- 3 cups (750ml) Milk
- ½ tsp (3g) Salt
- ½ tsp (3g) Pepper
- 1 cup (100g) + ½ cup (50g) Cheddar Cheese grated
Bacon Cauli Crumb
- 1 cup (48g) Fresh Bread crumbs from 2 crusts of a bread loaf
- 200 g Shoulder Bacon rind removed and roughly chopped
- 2 tsp (2g) Italian Herb
- 400 g Cauliflower Rice
To Serve
- 130 g Mesclun Salad or you favourite side of greens
Instructions
- Preheat oven to Fan Bake 180°C
- Cook the macaroni, according to the package instructions. Reserve 2 ½ cups of the cooking liquid.
- Meanwhile, bring a large frypan to medium-high heat. Once hot, add the butter and heat until it begins to bubble. Saute the brown onion and leek in the butter for a few minutes before adding in the paprika and garlic powder.
- Cook until the onion and leek have softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, before stirring in the milk, salt and pepper. Cook for a further 5 minutes, until the mixture, begins to bubble and thicken.
- Turn off the heat and stir in 1 cup of cheese, cooked macaroni and the reserved cooking liquid.
- Transfer to a large baking dish.
Bacon Cauli Crumb
- Bring a medium fry pan to high heat and saute the bacon, for 2 minutes or until it begins to colour. Add in the Italian herbs and cauliflower. Cook for a further 5 minutes, until the cauliflower, has heated through.
- Stir in the breadcrumbs and then remove from the heat.
- Spread evenly over the macaroni and top with ½ cup of cheese.
- Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve immediately with Mesclun salad or your favourite side of greens.