Cheesy Macaroni

Baked dishes have started making headway into our Indian kitchens, and the excitement-seeking palates of today's youngsters (read, my son..!) gobbles it up in no time!

I just love the Vegetable Au Gratin and the Chef's Baked bowl (at Eden..).. Ok, not to deviate.. Cheesy Macaroni is a quick combo of macaroni, cheese, white pepper, butter and milk.. Sounds heavenly, no!

Well for all these baked dishes, most of the ingredients remain the same - cheese, white sauce, maida, butter, tomato sauce, cream and so on.. You just have to match innovative combinations with some additional ingredients which gives you that extra zing!




Ingredients

1 cup - Grated cheese (Mozzarella)
300 grams of Macaroni - boiled
6 tablespoons butter
2 tbsp Maida
2 cups of milk ( if needed, you can add more)
Salt, white pepper powder
2 tbsp of fresh bread crumbs
1/2 tsp crushed pepper corns
1/2 tsp of chopped fresh parsley

1. Preheat the over to 220 C

For the white sauce :

2. Heat 2 tbslp of butter in a pan, on a low heat.
3. Add the maida, saute it and make sure it does not change colour.
4. Transfer to a bowl, let it cool for a minute.
5. Gradually add in the milk, and mix it well with hands, without forming any lumps.
6. Pour this mixture in the non-stick kadai, on a very low heat. Add half of the grated cheese and continue to stir.
7. You may add more milk to adjust the consistency.
8. Add salt, white pepper and mix well. Keep it aside.

The Macaroni:

1. Heat 2 tbsp of butter, toss in the cooked macaroni.
2. On a low heat, add the white sauce and mix gently.
3. Add the remaining cheese and transfer this to a baking dish.
4. Sprinkle bread crumbs on the top alongwith pepper corns and parsley.
5. Bake till the cheese melts and turns golden brown (15-20 mins).. Relish it HOT!