Description
Creamy wild garlic macaroni cheese delivers comfort with a gourmet twist, elevating classic comfort food. Silky pasta enveloped in sharp cheddar and aromatic wild garlic promises a delightful culinary experience you’ll savor to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 200 grams (7.05 ounces) macaroni pasta
- 500 milliliters (16.91 fluid ounces) milk
- 100 grams (3.53 ounces) mature cheddar, finely grated
- 100 grams (3.53 ounces) spinach
Cheese and Dairy:
- 50 grams (1.76 ounces) butter
- 50 grams (1.76 ounces) Parmesan, finely grated
Seasonings and Extras:
- 25 grams (0.88 ounces) plain flour
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 handful wild garlic, washed, dried, and roughly chopped
- 1 dash white wine vinegar
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Submerge the macaroni in boiling water and cook for 6-8 minutes until pasta reaches al dente texture, following package guidance.
- Drain pasta in a colander and reserve for later assembly.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, creating a smooth base for the roux.
- Incorporate flour into melted butter, stirring continuously for 5 minutes to develop a golden, nutty base.
- Slowly pour milk into the roux, whisking methodically to create a silky, lump-free sauce.
- Fold in Parmesan and most of the cheddar cheese, stirring until completely melted and integrated.
- Enhance sauce with Dijon mustard for depth of flavor.
- Introduce spinach and wild garlic to the cheese sauce, gently wilting the greens.
- Transfer sauce mixture to a blender and pulse until achieving a vibrant emerald consistency.
- Season sauce with salt and a splash of white wine vinegar for brightness.
- Heat oven to 180°C (gas mark 4) for optimal baking environment.
- Combine cheese sauce with cooked pasta, ensuring thorough coating.
- Transfer mixture to an ovenproof dish and sprinkle remaining cheddar on top.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until surface turns golden and edges bubble enthusiastically.
Notes
- Swap pasta for gluten-free alternatives like brown rice or chickpea pasta to make the dish celiac-friendly.
- Reduce cheese and use nutritional yeast for a lighter, vegan-friendly version with similar cheesy flavor.
- Quickly chop wild garlic leaves just before adding to preserve maximum flavor and nutritional potency.
- Choose full-fat dairy for richer sauce texture and deeper taste profile, ensuring smooth and creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 398 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg