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Butternut and Bacon Macaroni Cheese (Thermomix)

Deborah
A delicious mac and cheese recipe using butternut, bacon and other store cupboard ingredients.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

If you don't have the Cookidoo app for your Thermomix follow the recipe below:

  • 500g butternut pumpkin squash, cut into pieces (1 cm)
  • 150g shortcut bacon rashers cut into pieces (2 cm) – I used smoked back bacon
  • oil for drizzling
  • 2 tsp salt plus extra for seasoning
  • 0.25 tsp ground black pepper plus extra for seasoning
  • 250g cheddar cheese cut into pieces (3 cm)
  • 1000g water
  • 300g macaroni pasta
  • 1 brown onion approx. 120g, cut into halves
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 50g salted butter
  • 500g milk
  • 50g plain flour
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 pinches ground nutmeg
  • 0.5 tsp paprika plus extra for sprinkling
  • 1 tsp dried thyme

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray (30 x 40 cm) with baking paper and set aside.
  • Place a bowl onto the mixing bowl lid and weigh in the butternut pumpkin (squash) and bacon onto it. Transfer onto the prepared baking tray, then drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes (180°C) or until the pumpkin (squash) is soft.
  • Place the cheese into the mixing bowl and grate 8 seconds/speed 7. Transfer into a bowl and set aside. Clean and dry the mixing bowl.
  • Then add the water into the mixing bowl and heat 8 minutes/Varoma/speed 1.
  • Add the macaroni and 1 tsp of the salt and cook 10 to 15 minutes/90°C/reverse/speed 1 or until the pasta is cooked to your liking. Drain the pasta through the Varoma dish and transfer it into a thermal serving bowl or another large bowl. Rinse and dry the mixing bowl.
  • Preheat the oven to 190°C. Set aside an ovenproof baking dish (23 x 31 cm).
  • Place the onion and garlic into the mixing bowl and chop 5 seconds/speed 7. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl with the spatula.
  • Add the butter and cook 3 minutes/100°C/speed 1.
  • Add the milk, flour, mustard, nutmeg, paprika, thyme, and remaining 0.25 tsp pepper and 1 tsp salt and cook 7 minutes/90°C/speed 3.
  • Then add 100g of the reserved cheese into the mixing bowl and mix 1 minute /100°C/speed 2.
  • Transfer sauce into the bowl with the pasta. Add the reserved pumpkin (squash) and bacon and stir well to combine. Transfer into the ovenproof dish and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and paprika. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes (190°C) until golden brown. Serve warm.
  • Enjoy with some garlic bread, crusty bread, or even some chunky oven chips!!

Notes

Recipe on Australia Cookidoo
Butternut and Bacon Macaroni Cheese
 
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Keyword bacon, butternut squash, cheddar, mac and cheese, macaroni, macaroni cheese, pasta, Thermomix