Macaroni cheese in a white bowl on a dark backgroun

Healthier macaroni cheese

Name: Healthier macaroni cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: British recipes
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)

3 Reviews

Portion size: Serves 4
Takes 15 minutes to make, 15 minutes to cook
Difficulty: easy

Vegetarian

Delicious. food team

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We’ve made the all-American macaroni cheese recipe healthier by replacing the calorie-laden white sauce with puréed squash.

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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)

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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.
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