Name: Mac 'n' cheese with rich beef ragu
Total time: 4 h
Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients: 1 kg beef shin, cut into chunks; 2 tbsp plain flour, seasoned really well; olive oil; 2 onions, finely chopped; 3 carrots, grated; 1 star anise; 3 tbsp tomato purée; 200ml beef stock; 200ml red wine; 200ml passata; a bunch basil, chopped; 35g butter; 35g plain flour; 700ml whole milk; 1 tsp English mustard powder; 200g mature cheddar, grated; 100g gruyère, grated; 100g emmental, grated; 250g macaroni

Mac And Cheese Recipe With Rich Beef Ragu

1 kg beef shin
cut into chunks
2 tbsp plain flour
seasoned really well
 olive oil
2 onions
finely chopped
3 carrots
grated
1 star anise
3 tbsp tomato purée
200ml beef stock
200ml red wine
200ml passata
a bunch basil
chopped

MAC 'N' CHEESE

35g butter
35g plain flour
700ml whole milk
1 tsp English mustard powder
200g mature cheddar
grated
100g gruyère
grated
100g emmental
grated
250g macaroni

Method

step 1
Heat the oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Start with the ragu. Toss the beef in the flour and shake off the excess. Heat a little oil in a heavy casserole then cook the beef chunks in small batches until they have a good colour on all sides, then scoop them out and do the next batch.
step 2
Once all the beef has browned, tip it back into the casserole and add the onion, carrot and star anise. Cook, stirring for about 5 minutes, then stir in the tomato purée. Add the stock, wine and passata and bring to a simmer. Cover the pan with foil and put on a lid to create a seal. Transfer to the oven and cook for 3 hours, then check the beef is done – you want it to fall apart easily. If it doesn’t, put it back in the oven for another 30 minutes to an hour. Stir in the basil.
step 3
Meanwhile, make the mac and cheese. Melt the butter in a pan then stir in the flour. Keep cooking and stirring for 3 minutes then gradually whisk in the milk to give a smooth sauce.
step 4
Add the mustard powder, cheddar, gruyère, emmental and stir until melted. Season.
step 5
Turn up the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Cook the macaroni until just al dente then rinse under cold water and drain well. Mix with the cheese sauce.
step 6
Spoon the ragu into a large baking dish. Top with the mac and cheese. Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden and bubbling. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.