Bacon Jalapeno Mac n Cheese

Comfort food done right!

📝 Ingredients

• 350 g pasta (elbows or similar)
• 12 slices cooked bacon (chopped)
• 2 - 3 jalapenos (sliced)
• 4.5 cups whole milk
• 4 tbsp flour
• 100 g butter
• 3 garlic cloves (crushed)
• 200 g red leicester cheese (grated)
• 50 g parmesan (grated)
• 50 g white cheddar (grated)
• 50 g mozzarella (grated)
• 10 dashes tabasco
• 1 pinch salt
• 40 g panko (or other breadcrumbs)
• 1 lemon (zested)
• 3 tsp mixed herbs
• 1 tsp chili flakes

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Pasta ---
2. 2Cook pasta 2 mins less than packet instructions say. Strain and set aside
3. 3--- Cheese Sauce ---
4. 4Add butter, garlic and flour to sauce pan, cook on a medium heat to make a roux *see tips* and cook for a couple mins
5. 5Gradually add the milk and whisk until it starts to thicken. Turn heat to low.
6. 6Once sauce is starting to thicken add tabasco and grated cheese. Stirring to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly
7. 7--- Mac n Cheese ---
8. 8Fry jalapeno in cast iron or other heavy bottom frying pan. Once cooked remove from heat and add pasta, cheese sauce and bacon. Stir to combine.
9. 9Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and bake in the oven for 30 mins @ 180c place under a grill to crisp up the breadcrumbs *see tips*
10. 10--- Alternative ---
11. 11Instead of baking the mac n cheese you can add all the cooked ingredients into the cheese sauce pan and serve. Sprinkling some toasted breadcrumbs on top.