Name: Mix and match mac 'n' cheese bar
Total time: 50 min
Yield: Serves 10
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 500g macaroni; butter; 75g plain flour; 1.2 litres milk; 50g parmesan, finely grated; 200g cheddar, grated; 200g gruyère, grated; 1 tsp Dijon mustard; 200g cherry tomatoes, quartered; 1 shallot, finely chopped; a small bunch basil, chopped; olive oil; 4 slices sourdough; 1 tsp of chopped rosemary; 12 rashers streaky bacon; 300g mixed wild mushrooms; pickled jalapeños, from a jar; 1 bunch spring onions, chopped; hot sauces (sriracha, Tobasco); truffle oil, to serve; chilli oil, to serve

500g macaroni
butter
75g plain flour
1.2 litres milk
50g parmesan
finely grated
200g cheddar
grated
200g gruyère
grated
1 tsp Dijon mustard

TOPPINGS

200g cherry tomatoes
quartered
1 shallot
finely chopped
a small bunch basil
chopped
olive oil
4 slices sourdough
1 tsp of chopped rosemary
12 rashers streaky bacon
300g mixed wild mushrooms
pickled jalapeños
from a jar
1 bunch spring onions
chopped
hot sauces (sriracha, Tobasco)
truffle oil
to serve
chilli oil
to serve

Method

step 1
Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.
step 2
Cook the macaroni until just tender with a bit of bite, then drain well and rinse under cold water. Drain again. Melt 75g butter in a large saucepan. Stir in the flour to make a smooth paste and cook for 3-4 minutes. Gradually stir in the milk until you get a lump-free sauce. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for a few minutes until thickened, then take off the heat and stir in half the parmesan, all the other cheeses, the mustard and some seasoning.
step 3
Stir in the pasta and tip everything into a large, buttered ovenproof dish. Scatter with the remaining parmesan and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and piping hot. While the mac is cooking make the toppings.
step 4
Mix the tomatoes, shallot and basil with 1 tbsp olive oil and season well. Cut the crusts off the sourdough and break into pea-sized breadcrumbs. Toss with 1 tbsp olive oil and the rosemary then bake alongside the pasta for 10-15 minutes until golden.
step 5
Cut the bacon into small pieces and fry or grill until crispy. Fry the mushrooms in a little butter and seasoning.
step 6
Put the breadcrumbs, bacon, mushrooms, jalapeños and onions into separate bowls. Put the mac ‘n’ cheese in the middle of the table along with the toppings, sauces and oils and let everyone add their own toppings to finish.