Nachos Mac 'N Cheese
An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 30-40 minutes
Serves approximately 8 people
- 500g/1.1lbs pasta shapes
- 2 onions, peeled and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
- 750g/26.5ozs. minced beef
- 600g/21.2ozs. tinned diced tomatoes
- 600g/21.2ozs. tinned kidney beans
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons chilli powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1-2 teaspoons salt (to taste)
-
1 teaspoon black pepper
-
50g/1.7ozs. butter
- 5 tablespoons plain all purpose flour
- 3 cups hot milk
- 3 cups grated tasty or cheddar cheese
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, divided
-
Salt to taste
-
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 30g/1oz. butter, cubed
- 1 large ripe avocado
- 1/4 cup onion, finely diced
- 2 cherry tomatoes, finely chopped
- Lime juice and salt
- Corn chips, green onions and smoked paprika to serve
Step 1 - Have a 35x22cm (14x8.8inch) deep baking tray ready. Boil the pasta in plenty of boiling water for 6 minutes. While it is cooking, add oil to a very large pot and fry the onions until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Then add beef mince and use spatula to break it up. Add tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato paste, chilli powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt and pepper and cook through the beef.
Step 2 - When the pasta is cooked, drain it in a sieve and then add the pasta to the pot with the beef (which should have finished cooking and you can take off the heat). I use the same saucepan that I used for the pasta to make the roux sauce. Melt the butter and then add the flour and cook for a minute. Slowly add the hot milk gradually, about half a cup at a time. Using a whisk helps now. Keep adding until you get a thick, smooth sauce. Add the cheddar cheese and half the parmesan and stir and thicken.
Step 3 - Preheat oven to 200C/400F. If you have room in the pot, mix the cheese sauce with the beef and pasta (you can also do this in a large bowl or even in the baking tray). Sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs, remaining half of the parmesan cheese and butter cubes. Bake for 15 minutes.
Step 4 - Mash the avocado and mix with the onion, tomato and lime juice and season. Serve the mac and cheese with sour cream, corn chips and the guacamole. I also added some green onions and a final sprinkle of smoked paprika on top.