Refresh
    Macaroni and Cheese with creamy White Wine Sauce.

    Macaroni and Cheese is an old classic which can be adapted veary easily. Different variations still make it Mac'n'Cheese or either a good and comforting Pasta Bake. It all depends on the shape of the Pasta for the purists. This Macaroni and Cheese Dish is simple yet indulgent: Perfect for a midweek Dinner. The light nutty flavour of the Cheeses used and the creaminess of the White Wine Sauce along with the texture of the Breadcrumbs render it a delightfull bowl of Pasta at the end of the day. 

    Putting it all Together
    Macaroni and Cheese with creamy White Wine Sauce.
    Timing
    • Preptime: 15-20 minutes.
    • Cooktime: 15-20 minutes.
    • Servings: 2-4 portions
    Ingredients

    500g to 750g Macaroni Pasta.

    Water.

    Sea Salt.

    Olive Oil.

    2 Shallots, peeled and chopped.

    2 Garlic Cloves, peeled and chopped.

    1 Garlic Clove crushed.

    Chopped Parsley or Chervil, a good handful.

    Chopped Tarragon leaves to your liking.

    400ml/g of Double Cream or Creme Fraiche.

    100ml of White Wine preferably Sauvignon Blanc.

    1 Egg Yolk.

    Crushed White Peppercorns.

    1 tablespoon of WholeGrain Mustard.

    Breadcrumbs from Wholemeal Bread or Crusty Sourdough Bread toasted or baked.

    Salted Butter. A good knob.

    Optional: a little Thyme Leaves, a pinch of Nutmeg, but also a handful of sliced Chestnut Mushrooms.

    Essential: Grated Cheese. The choice is yours. I go for 250 g of Emmental or Gruyére Cheese usually and roughly, give or take 75g to 100g of Parmesan. 

     

     

     

    Steps

    First preheat the oven to gas mark 5.

    Then put a deep pan of Water upon the stove to boil. Make you put a good Pinch of Sea Salt within the Water and a drizzle of Olive Oil. This will be for cooking the Macaroni.

    Chop a couple of Shallots and a couple of Garlic.

    Put another Pan with high edges on the stove. Add to it 30g of Butter to it and a little Olive Oil. The Oil will prevent the Butter to burn. 

    Add your chopped Shallots and Garlic to the Butter. While you keep an eye upon them with a spatula so they do not catch, toast 2 to 3 slices of Bread, either in the oven or the toaster. This will take less than five mintes.

    However if using the oven, it is nice to give a little TLC to your slices of Bread. Peel and crush your remaining Garlic Clove. Brush with a little Olive Oil your slices then rub them with the Garlic Clove before putting upon a baking tray and in the oven. It add flavour to your Breadcrumbs at a later stage.

    Once your Bread is in the oven, pour the Sauvignon Blanc Wine reserved for the Sauce within the pan of your gently sweated Shallots. Separate the yolk from an Egg. Add the yolk to your Cream in a bowl along with a tablespoon of Wholegrain Mustard. Whisk together gently then incorporate your Creamy mixture to the pan with your Shallots and your reduced White Wine. This will create your Sauce which just need occasional stirring while it does simmer.

    Take your Bread out of the oven if you haven't already done and let it cool a little.

    Put your Macaroni into your pan of boiling Water, it should take 8 to 12 minutes for the Pasta to cook. This gives ample time to do the chopping of the Herbs: The fresh Leaves of Tarragon and the ones of Parsley which can then be added to the creamy White Wine Sauce. Just keep aside some chopped Herbs for decorating the Dish or plates later on.

    Season your Sauce to your liking. Crushed White Peppercorns, Sea Salt, a little pinch of Nutmeg if using.

    Grate the Gruyére and the Parmesan.

    Prepare your Breadcrumbs by blitzing your Bread slices in a mixer.

    By then your Macaroni should be ready. Pour one laddle of the Pasta Water into your White Wine Creamy Sauce to loosen it a little and stir gently.

    Drain the Water of the Pasta.

    Prepare a deep edge baking tray by rubbing it with the remaining Butter then with the crushed Garlic Clove.

    Put your drained Macaroni within your dish then most of the grated Cheese, keeping some for the top.

    Pour your Creamy White Wine Sauce over the Pasta and mix well with care.

    Add the finishing touches the Toasted Breadcrumbs and the remaining Cheese on top. As the pasta are cooked and the Sauce is just as well, the baking time is not long: 15 to 20 minutes. It just a matter of melting the Cheese within the Dish and ontop of it.

    Macaroni Cheese is not a looker of a Dish, but what it lacks in looks, it definitely makes it up for being comforting food. You can always pretty up the plate a little by decorating them with the reserved chopped Herbs. Then all you have to do is enjoying the Meal.  

     

     

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