Chorizo Mac ’n’ Cheese #shorts

This pasta concoction emboldened with a chorizo sausage crumble is a winner. It can of course be eaten straight from the pot once you’ve folded cooked pasta through the rich cheese sauce but the baked alternative yields a fairly irresistible golden crust that’s worth the extra time in the oven!! X

Serves: 4
Time: 45 mins

300g rigatoni
75g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
Small handful sage leaves
60g plain flour
700ml whole milk
1 tsp dijon mustard
Pinch of nutmeg
150g cheddar cheese, grated
10g parmesan cheese, grated
2 tbsp olive oil
150g cooking chorizo, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely sliced
100g white bread, torn into small pieces or crumbs
Sea salt & white pepper
Green leaf salad, to serve

1. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and add the macaroni and cook until al dente, for about 12 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6.
3. Grease a large ovenproof dish with butter.
4. Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium high heat with the sage leaves and then whisk in the flour. Cook for 2 minutes and then gradually pour in the milk. Continuously whisk until the mixture comes to a steady simmer and continue to cook until you have a thick sauce.
5. Add the mustard, nutmeg, plenty of seasoning and most of the cheese. Mix through until the cheese has melted.
6. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta in the pot and mix through until everything is combined.
7. In a frying pan, heat the oil and fry the chorizo until it has released its oil and is starting to crisp. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon then add the garlic and bread and fry until the crumbs are golden. Drain on kitchen towel then toss with the crispy chorizo.
8. Spoon the macaroni and cheese into the dish then scatter over the chorizo crumb and the remaining cheese. Bake for 30 minutes until golden and bubbling. Serve with a green salad.