Suitable for vegetarians
A favourite of Mrs Beeton, and still a delicious comfort food today
Serves 6
Preparation time 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 225g macaroni
- 40g butter
- 40g plain flour
- 0.5tsp English mustard powder
- Pinch Asda cayenne pepper
- 570ml milk
- 175g Lancashire or Mature English Cheddar, grated
- 1tbsp fresh breadcrumbs
Method
1 Cook the macaroni in boiling salted water according to the packet instructions. Drain, set aside and preheat the grill to highest setting.
2 Melt the butter in a pan, add flour, mustard and cayenne pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in milk gradually, beating out lumps. Return to the hob and stir over a medium heat until it thickens. Simmer for 2 minutes.
3 Remove from heat. Stir in the macaroni and all but 1 tablespoon of cheese, season and pile into a greased 1.1 litre ovenproof dish. Mix the reserved cheese with breadcrumbs and sprinkle over the macaroni. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes until golden.