Now that the TV adaptation of Dolly Alderton's iconic memoir is screening on TVNZ, may we suggest you pair your viewing with her totally indulgent mac and cheese recipe from Everything I Know About Love.
INGREDIENTS
- 350g pasta - macaroni or penne works well
- 35g butter
- 35g plain flour
- 500ml whole milk
- 200g grated Cheddar cheese
- 100g grated Red Leicester cheese
- 100g grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp English mustard
- Bunch of spring onions, chopped
- Dash of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 small ball of mozzarella cheese, torn into pieces
- Salt and black pepper, to season
- Olive oil, to drizzle
In a large pan of boiling water, cook the pasta for eight minutes, so it is slightly undercooked - it will continue to cook when you bake it. Drain and set aside, stirring olive oil through so it doesn't stick together.
In a separate pan, melt the butter. Mix in the flour and keep cooking for a few minutes, stirring all the time until the mixture forms a roux paste. Whisk in the milk little by little, and cook over a low heat for ten to fifteen minutes. Keep stirring all the time and cook until you have a smooth and glossy sauce that gradually thickens.
Off the heat, add around three-quarters of the Cheddar, Red Leicester and Parmesan into the sauce, along with the mustard, some salt and pepper, the chopped onions and a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and keep stirring until all is melted.
Preheat the grill as high as it will go. Pour the pasta into the sauce and mix everything together in a baking dish, stir in the mozzarella, then sprinkle over the remaining Cheddar, Red Leicester and Parmesan. Grill (or place into a hot oven at 200°C for fifteen minutes), until the mixture is golden and bubbling with a crisp top.
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Wondering what to read after Everything I Know About Love? If you’re a fan of Dolly Alderton’s first book, then you’ll love her second book: Ghosts. Learn all about it and discover more similar titles.
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