My Tomato and Bacon Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Certainly a favourite of many families, I have given my mac n cheese a University Education.
My Tomato and Bacon Baked Macaroni and Cheese
What you will need
250g Streaky Bacon
375g elbow macaroni or fusilli – uncooked
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 tablespoons flour
500ml full cream milk [I heated this gently and infused it with a blade of mace, a slice of onion, 3 bay leaves and a grind of nutmeg]
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon pepper
180g Dalewood Fromage Huguenot 6months matured [a mature hard cheese] finely grated, plus a bit extra for sprinkling on top
5 medium tomatoes, peeled and cut into thin slices.
What you’ll do
Set your oven to 165C. Place the shelf in the middle.
Cut the bacon into lardons and fry in a large pan until it is crisp. Drain on kitchen paper.
Bring a large pot of water, well salted with extra salt, to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the instructions on the packet. Use a second pot, big enough to hold the cooked pasta, and melt the butter over medium allowing it to turn light nutty brown. Sprinkle over the flour and, using a whisk, move it around until it completely absorbs the butter. Add the milk, slightly warmed if you like [I do] and whisk vigorously to blend smoothly. Add the sea salt and pepper. Over gentle heat, bring the sauce to a boil and cook for a few minutes. Add the finely grated cheese and whisk until it is incorporated in the sauce. Taste and re-season if necessary. This is known as Sauce Mornay and has many uses.
When the pasta is still a bit al dente [It will cook further in the oven], drain and add to the sauce and stir well. Pour into an ovenproof dish, about 20cm square. Smooth over the top and cover with the slices of tomato. Season the tomato with sea salt and freshly milled black pepper. Sprinkle over a light covering of cheese. Bake in the preset oven for 25 to 30 minutes. It should be bubbling around the edges. Sprinkle over the bacon and serve.
Serves 4
Dalewood Fromage Huguenot – an Estate Cheese from Paarl
