My Ultimate Four Cheese Macaroni

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 20 minutes
  • Servings: 4 as a lunch or side dish
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The success of this four cheese macaroni recipe depends on the choice of cheeses. Ricotta replaces a white sauce, mature cheddar has flavour and bite, parmesan adds a salty punch and gruyere style (Australian is available) has delightful melting qualities and a rich, nutty flavour.

Ingredients

  • 300g dried macaroni
  • 20g butter
  • 1 leek, finely sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 100ml milk
  • 300ml cream
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 pinch nutmeg
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 100g (½ cup) ricotta
  • 1 cup (125g) grated gruyere or Swiss-style cheese
  • ½ cup (40g) grated parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup (60g) grated mature cheddar cheese
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives
  • 4 – 6 slices (60g) prosciutto, roughly chopped (optional)
  • ½ cup (35g) fresh breadcrumbs

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C and grease a medium sized (2 litre) casserole or baking dish.
  2. Add macaroni to a large saucepan of salted boiling water, stir well and bring back to the boil according to directions or until al dente (approx 12 minutes). Drain well.
  3. Meanwhile, melt butter over medium heat in a medium saucepan, add leek and garlic and cook for 3 minutes or until soft. Add milk, cream, mustard and nutmeg, mix well and bring to the boil. Remove from heat and whisk in the egg, ricotta, ½ cup gruyere cheese (reserving ½ cup for topping), ¼ cup parmesan cheese (reserving ¼ cup for topping) and mature cheddar cheese. Stir until combined. Gently fold in reserved macaroni and chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  4. Pour macaroni mixture into prepared dish. Combine prosciutto, breadcrumbs and remaining ½ cup gruyere cheese and ¼ cup parmesan cheese and sprinkle over macaroni.
  5. Bake for 20 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and the top is golden. Remove and rest 5 minutes. Serve with green salad, if desired.

Notes

Lyndey’s Note: I like a tube shape pasta for this style of recipe, so elbow macaroni or penne could be used. Mozzarella can be used in place of the gruyere and crumbled blue cheese can be added to the mixture.

Other pasta recipes:
Linguine with Seafood and Garlic Crumb
Traditional Pork & Veal Ragu with Penne
Pappardelle with Wild Boar Sausage Ragout

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