Macaroni and cheese / mac & cheese - the most delicious American recipe

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Macaroni and cheese is a guarantee that the kids will eat their dinner. The real American 'Mac & Cheese' is a side dish that consists of deliciously soft pasta with cheese sauce — of course you can make it without packets and bags. And come on, let's not go too crazy with the amount of cheese when making the sauce. This way he can also have some time during the week…

You can choose to skip the last step with this recipe. Then the Mac & cheese doesn't have to go in the oven. Just as tasty and 'smooth', only it lacks the crunchy crust. Just what you like best.

Recipe from our cookbook

This is one of the recipes from our cookbook 'Soulfood & Spaghetti'. In that book you will find no less than 150 NEW recipes from our Caribbean-Italian kitchen. Did you know that in addition to all the classic Soulfood and Italian recipes, the book also has an extensive vegetarian and a vegan chapter?

Via the image below you can view all information about Soulfood & Spaghetti:

Which cheese for the Macaroni and cheese?

For the tastiest Macaroni and cheese you prefer to use grated Cheddar cheese. You can buy these as a block or already grated in the supermarket. Note: the slices of 'Cheddar' processed cheese that are individually wrapped in plastic foil are NOT suitable for this recipe. Can't find the Cheddar, or don't feel like extra shopping? Then you can also use 'Dutch' matured cheese. That tastes great too!

This recipe is for 4 servings of Macaroni and cheese

Ingredients:

350 g macaroni
1 tbsp salt
50 gr butter
1 onion, chopped
40 gr wheat flour
½ tsp paprika
a pinch of nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
500 ml milk
200 gr grated Cheddar cheese
(+ 150 grams extra, if you want to put the Mac & Cheese in the oven)

Prefer a video?

In the video below you can see in 45 seconds how I make the Mac & Cheese:

American Mac & Cheese preparation

Cook the macaroni according to package directions, but subtract two minutes from the cooking time. In the meantime you have time to make the sauce.

To do this, heat the butter in a frying pan over low heat. Sauté the onion in it until it is translucent. Add paprika powder, nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Now add the flour to the pan and stir well. Let the flour cook in this way for two minutes.

Now add the milk and stir thoroughly with a whisk. Increase the heat and bring the sauce to a boil. You will notice the sauce thickening as it begins to boil. When the sauce has boiled for two minutes and has thickened, stir in the cheese. Keep stirring until all the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth again.

The macaroni should now be cooked. Drain the water from the macaroni. Add the almost cooked macaroni to the sauce and bring to the boil again. Let the macaroni cook in the cheese sauce for another two minutes and then remove the pan from the heat.

You can serve the Macaroni and Cheese as it is, or put it in the oven for a crispy crust. In the latter case, divide the extra 150 gr Cheddar cheese over the macaroni and place the pan under the grill at 10°C for about 200 minutes.

Let the mac 'n cheese cool for a few minutes before serving. - Enjoy your meal!