Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat
Western Baked Macaroni Cheese
西式焗芝士通粉
Recipe overview
Coat elbow macaroni in homemade cheddar sauce and bake to a lightly golden top for a family dish.
01
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 350 g dry elbow macaroni
- 250 g cheddar cheese
- 500 ml milk
- 30 g unsalted butter
- 30 g plain flour
Cheese sauce seasoning
- 1/4 tsp, adjust for cheese saltiness
- a pinch ground black pepper
02
Tools
- oven
- cheese grater
- large pot
- colander
- small saucepan
- whisk
- wooden spoon
- measuring jug
- about 20 cm baking dish
- oven mitts
03
Steps
Step 1
Preheat oven
Preheat oven to 190°C and prepare an approximately 20 cm baking dish.
Step 2
Grate cheese
Grate cheddar and reserve about 50 g for the top.
Step 3
Boil water
Bring plenty of water to a boil in a large pot.
Step 4
Cook macaroni
Add dry macaroni and cook about 2 minutes less than package time, stirring occasionally, so it stays slightly firm.
Step 5
Drain macaroni
Drain through a colander without rinsing in cold water.
Step 6
Melt butter
Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
Step 7
Cook flour paste
Whisk in plain flour for about 2 minutes to make a pale roux; do not brown.
Step 8
Add milk gradually
Add milk in several portions, whisking smooth before each addition.
Step 9
Thicken sauce
Whisk over medium-low heat about 5 minutes until sauce lightly coats the back of a spoon.
Step 10
Melt in cheese
Remove from heat, stir in about 200 g grated cheddar until melted, then season with salt and pepper.
Step 11
Combine in dish
Mix macaroni with cheese sauce, transfer to the baking dish and sprinkle remaining about 50 g cheese on top.
Step 12
Bake golden
Bake about 15 minutes until lightly golden and hot through. Remove with oven mitts and cool slightly before eating.
Common mistakes
- High heat can scorch the sauce; fully soft pasta before baking becomes mushy.
Tips
Cook macaroni slightly firm before baking so it keeps texture. Add milk gradually to avoid lumps. Contains milk and wheat.
