Name: Mac & Cheese with Bacon Jam
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 110 g macaroni; 35 g blue cheese, crumbled; 1/5 tsp sea salt flakes; 1/5 tsp black pepper, ground; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 85 g bacon, finely chopped; 1/2 red onion, finely chopped; 1/2 garlic cloves, finely grated; 1/10 tbsp ground coriander; 3/10 tsp smoked paprika; 3/10 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 3/4 tbsp tomato purée; 3/10 tbsp honey; 25 g butter; 25 g plain flour; 225 ml whole milk; 50 g cheddar cheese; 3/10 tsp dijon mustard; 3/10 tsp worcestershire sauce

1

Bacon Jam - In a saucepan heat the oil on a medium to high heat.

2

Add the bacon, onion and garlic and fry until the bacon is starting to crisp, 7-10 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and season well. Reduce to a low heat, cook for 25-30 minutes stirring frequently.

3

Meanwhile make the cheese sauce – melt the butter in a saucepan until bubbling, then add the flour and whisk for around a minute. Gradually whisk in the milk and bring to a simmer constantly stirring until thickened or around 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining ingredients, season and remove from the heat.

4

Preheat oven to 220c/200c fan/ gas 7.

5

Cook the macaroni in salted water for two minutes less than on the packet. Drain and mix with the cheese sauce until thoroughly coated. In a 10x10cm ovenproof dish spoon the pasta mix, then bacon jam on top, finish with the crumbled blue cheese.

6

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until golden.

Method