Macaroni and Cheese - Cheesy baked pasta dish

Delight in the epitome of comfort food with Jamie Oliver's ultimate mac 'n' cheese recipe, a heavenly creation that blends a medley of rich cheeses with a smoky bacon pangrattato topping for a divine crunch. This is not just any mac 'n' cheese; it's a gourmet experience that promises to satiate your cravings and take this classic dish to new heights.

Ingredients:

For Mac 'n' Cheese:

- A big knob of butter

- 3 large onions, finely sliced

- 3 tablespoons of flour

- 1 liter of milk

- 400g macaroni pasta

- 100g cheddar cheese, grated

- 100g raclette or gruyere cheese, grated

- 50g parmesan cheese, finely grated

- 1 teaspoon English mustard

- 1 teaspoon mango chutney

- Salt, to taste

- Worcestershire sauce, a couple of swigs

- Pasta water, as needed

For Smoky Bacon Pangrattato:

- Olive oil

- 4 slices of smoky bacon, finely chopped

- A handful of fresh breadcrumbs

- A few sprigs of fresh thyme, leaves picked

- 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

Optional:

- Seasonal veggies, like peas or chopped spinach

- Salad leaves for serving

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Servings: 6

Equipment: Large saucepan, pasta pot, ovenproof dish, frying pan

### Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).

2. Start by melting a big knob of butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the finely sliced onions and cook for 15 minutes until they are sweet and slightly golden, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in 3 tablespoons of flour to the saucepan, which will act as our thickening agent to create a silky sauce and absorb the moisture from the onions.

4. Gradually add 1 liter of milk to the saucepan, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Continue adding milk until it's all absorbed, and then let it simmer to thicken.

5. While the sauce simmers, half-cook the macaroni in a separate pot for about 5 minutes – this is so it can continue cooking in the oven and absorb all the sauce's flavors.

6. Reserve some starchy pasta water and drain the pasta.

7. Choose your cheeses wisely for the sauce – a combination of good melting cheddar, stringy and gorgeous raclette or gruyere, and flavor-binding parmesan.

8. Add 100g each of the cheddar and raclette into your onion and milk mixture, followed by the grated parmesan. Stir until well combined and melted. Adjust for seasoning with salt and mustard for heat, and add the mango chutney for a hint of sweetness. Adjust the sauce's consistency with the reserved pasta water off the heat for perfect ooziness.

9. Mix the drained pasta into the cheese sauce, ensuring each piece is coated beautifully. Add a few swigs of Worcestershire sauce and transfer everything into an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle with extra cheddar if you like and bake it in the preheated oven for 30 minutes until bubbly and golden.

10. While the mac 'n' cheese bakes, prepare the pangrattato. Heat a good splash of olive oil in a frying pan, add the bacon, and cook until it starts turning golden. Add the breadcrumbs, thyme, and garlic, and cook until golden and crispy.

11. After 30 minutes, remove the mac 'n' cheese from the oven, and let it sit for a couple of minutes.

12. Serve the mac 'n' cheese with a generous sprinkling of smoky bacon pangrattato, and garnish with salad leaves if desired. Dive in and enjoy the luscious, comforting blend of flavors.

Cooking Tips:

- Adding seasonal veggies like peas, spinach, or asparagus will not only enhance the nutrition of the dish but also add delightful bursts of fresh flavors.

- Cooking the pasta only halfway allows it to absorb the sauce and become extra flavorful.

- The reserved pasta water contains starch that helps in achieving the perfect consistency of your cheese sauce. Add little by little to reach your desired silkiness.

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Macaroni and Cheese - Cheesy baked pasta dish