Baked Macaroni In Cheesy White Sauce

I’d noticed something very prominent in the Goa Marathon my husband had participated in. It was the pre-evening pasta party. Why specifically Pasta Party…was the question.
After bit of quizzing with the cognoscenti, I realized its significance. It was a planned diet of stuffing the marathoners with carbs before the run. Its basically stocking the energy before so that it can be consumed later while running.
So this time before the celebrated Mumbai Marathon, I decided to treat him myself… but with my own little spin to it.

Cooking time: 50 mins
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

500g Macaroni pasta
2 tbsps Plain flour
2 tbsps Butter
500ml Milk
Quarter cup Fresh Cream
3 tbsps Cheese spread (any flavour, optional)
Pasta Cheese or Parmesan Cheese for grating on the top
2 tbsps Finely chopped Garlic (I love garlic so add 4 tbsps)
A pinch Black pepper powder for seasoning
1/2 tsp Oregano for seasoning (optional)
2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
Salt as per taste

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 C. Grease a medium baking dish.
2. Cook pasta as per the packet’s instructions. Drain and leave aside. Remember, not to overcook it.
3.  Melt butter in a medium, non-stick saucepan over medium heat. Add a tsp of oil. It prevents butter from burning.
4. Add the chopped garlic and saute till it releases the aroma.
5. Add flour and stir. Add bit by bit to avoid lumps.
6. Now add milk slowly and stir. Again, to avoid lumps.
7. Add the remaining milk and cream and keep stirring till it thickens a bit. Simmer while you keep stirring for a longer time if you want the sauce really thick.
8. Add the Cheese spread and stir till it melts and is mixed properly.
9. Season with oregano, salt and pepper.
10. Now tumble in the pasta and mix lightly without hurting and mashing it up.
11. Spoon in this mixture into the baking dish.
12. Grate the Pasta cheese / Parmesan cheese.
13. Gratinate with bread crumbs. Its the crunch that packs that extra punch 🙂
14. Bake for 20-25 minutes or till the surface looks browned and crisped.
15. Remove from the oven and let it stand for 10 minutes.
16. Serve with omlettes, fried chicken or anything you like. I had it simply with the hot and sweet sauce.

P.S.: There are whole lot of permutations-combinations that can be done here.
Chopped Spring Onions, boiled and shredded Chicken, smoked Bacon, boiled Prawns….and the list goes on…
Don’t wanna add those extra inches to your waistline, skip the Cheese (cheese spread and grated cheese) altogether.

So…plonk down and dig in 🙂