Macaroni and Cheese French style

Macaroni and cheese or Mac and Cheese is a world famous recipe that exist all over the planet, france included. and as you would expect, yes, the French version is somehow different. however, I believe that it is really great to have a version from every country to be able to try it out for yourself and see what the differences is.

For this recipe you will need:

• 250 grams of macaroni pasta
• 300 ml of heavy cream/pure cream/ full fat cream (name varies between countries)
• 200 ml of Full cream milk/ whole milk
• 2 cloves of garlic chopped
• 1 pinch of grated nutmeg
• salt and peper to taste

For the topping:

• 300 grams of grated cheese
• 1 Tomato (sliced)

Directions:

• Start by cooking the macaronis in a large sauce with boiling water and salt.
• While the pasta are cooking put a saucepan on medium heat and pour in the cream, milk, nutmeg salt and peper and bring gently to the boil.
• Once the milk and cream mix boils and the pasta are cooked transfer the milk an cream mix in a large bowl and the cooked pasta on top. mix well and leave to rest for a few minutes.
• while the pasta mix is resting coat a large baking dish with butter ( the dish we you will useto bake the macaronis) then sprinkle some finely sliced garlic all over the bottom of the dish.
• when done heat your oven to 180c /356 f
• next pour all of the macaroni mix in the baking dish, season with salt and peper add grated cheese and top up with a fewsliced of freshly sliced tomoatoes.
• Finally bake the macaronis at 180 c 356f for 30 minutes.
• you can eat that dish on its own but usually in france this is serve as a side with chickent or various stews.
• enjoy.

FCA

Host and author on The French Cooking Academy.