Caprese Mac and Cheese

 

 

 

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

1 hour

 

Recipe type: Pasta, Baked pasta, Mac and cheese, Dinner

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

for the sauce

• 100g butter
• ½ cup flour
• 1 litre milk, warmed with 1 bay leaf, ½ onion and 5 black peppercorns
• pinch of nutmeg
• 150g gruyere/ other strong, mature cheese, grated
• salt & white pepper to taste

for the tomato layer

• 400g tin whole peeled tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

for the mac and cheese

• 500g pasta of your choice (I used a spiral shaped tube), cooked + 1 cup of cooking water reserved
• 8 ripe tomatoes, sliced into ½ cm slices
• ½ cup basil pesto
• 150g fior di latte (or other mozzarella of your choice)

Instructions

1. To make the sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan then add the flour and whisk to make a roux.
2. Slowly whisk in the milk until it has been fully incorporated.
3. Turn the heat down, add the nutmeg and allow the sauce to simmer gently for 10 minutes.
4. Turn down the heat then add the cheese, salt and pepper and stir until the cheese has melted.
5. Mix the sauce with the pasta and add a little of the cooking water should the sauce be too thick.
6. Pre-heat the oven to 200°c.
7. To make the tomato layer, add the salt and sugar to the tomatoes and blend with a stick blender until smooth. Pour in the bottom of an oven-proof dish.
8. Place half of the pasta in the dish on top of the tomatoes then top with half of the tomato slices and cheese. Dollop on the basil pesto.
9. Top with the remaining pasta.
10. Top with the remaining tomatoes and cheese then place in the oven.
11. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the tomatoes are roasted slightly and the cheese has melted and is golden brown.
12. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.

 

Source