Macaroni and cheese is a favorite childhood dish for many. Even after you become an adult the craving for this fun and tasty dish still remains. You can find macaroni and cheese from various brands in the market. They are easy to cook in the oven too. However, if you can make them from scratch at home, the level of satisfaction will be different. Macaroni and cheese will turn out to be tastier too.
The little golden macaroni looks very attractive. The powdered cheese that the box contains melts nicely when heated. But imagine having your homemade macaroni with freshly grated mozzarella or cheddar cheese. I am sure you can't wait for it to melt in your mouth. So, let's try making our favorite mac and cheese at home.
Ingredients
- Elbow macaroni – ½ cup
- Butter – ½ cup
- All-purpose flour – ½ cup
- Salt – ½ teaspoon
- Milk – 4 cups
- Cheddar cheese – 1 pound, shredded
- Butter – ¼ cup, melted
- Buttery round crackers – 1 sleeve, crushed
Method
- Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C
- Put a pot on the stovetop. Add water and salt. Bring it to a boil.
- Pour the elbow macaroni into the water and cook. Stir occasionally. When it becomes tender, take it out of the stove. Drain it well.
- Melt butter in a saucepan. Add flour and salt. Cook for 2 minutes. Add milk and simmer.
- Make sure to stir constantly till the mixture thickens. Turn the flame off.
- Add cheddar cheese and wait for it to melt. Add macaroni and stir.
Pour the content into a baking dish. Add butter and crushed crackers. Bake till the macaroni mixture turns golden brown. It will take approximately 45 minutes.
Storing
You can store macaroni and cheese in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Make sure you put them in an airtight container. When you take it out for reheating, splash some milk over it so that it doesn't get dry. You can either heat it over your stove or in the microwave. You won't find any difference in taste.
How healthy is macaroni and cheese?
It is a high-calorie food that gives you a lot of energy. If you eat it in moderate amounts then it is good for your health. You can reduce the amount of cheese if you have high blood pressure.
How to make macaroni and cheese a healthier choice?
You can replace butter with olive oil. Parmesan cheese has fewer calories than cheddar cheese, so you can use that. Add herbs and spices instead of adding more cream and butter. You can add veggies like carrots and broccoli. You can also add slices of cooked chicken to add more nutrition to your body.
Variations
- Macaroni cheese lasagne
- Macaroni cheese with fish
- Macaroni cheese with bacon
- Green bean mac n' cheese
- Mac n'cheese with smoked haddock
Macaroni and cheese is a very simple dish. You can make it rich by adding more ingredients like meat, fish, veggies, and herbs. If you have one bowl of mac n' cheese stuffed with these healthy ingredients you won't feel hungry throughout the day and get a lot of energy to work. Cooking it is quite easy. So, you can prepare it after coming home from work. It's a wonderful dish that every member of your family will enjoy. So, try this recipe today and surprise your loved ones.
