Healthier macaroni cheese
We’ve made the all-American macaroni cheese recipe healthier by replacing the calorie-laden white sauce with puréed squash.
Ingredients
- ½ butternut squash (about 400g), peeled, deseeded and chopped
- 300ml skimmed milk
- 2 tbsp whipping cream
- Good grating of nutmeg
- 350g macaroni
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 150g vintage cheddar, grated, plus 3 tbsp extra to top
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan (or vegetarian alternative)
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6. Put the butternut squash and milk into a pan and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 10-12 minutes until the squash is tender, then add the cream and, using a stick blender, whizz to a purée. Add the nutmeg and season to taste.
- Cook the macaroni in a pan of salted water for 5 minutes until it starts to soften but is still quite firm. Drain, then add a little of the olive oil to prevent it sticking together. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a frying pan, add the onion and gently fry for a few minutes to soften. Stir in the mustard powder and garlic, then cook for another couple of minutes.
- Add the onion mixture to the purée, then stir in the cheddar. Toss with the macaroni, season to taste, then transfer to a 1.2 litre ovenproof dish. Top with the remaining cheeses, then bake for 15-20 minutes until golden on top. Leave for a few minutes before serving.
- Recipe from October 2012 Issue
Nutrition
- Calories
- 576kcals
- Fat
- 23.7g (12.9g saturated)
- Protein
- 25.5g
- Carbohydrates
- 64.8g (8.7g sugars)
- Fibre
- 15.4g
- Salt
- 1g
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