Marmite Mac & Cheese with Nairn’s Oatcake crumbs
Prep time 15 mins
Cook time 20 mins
If you're looking to up your Mac and Cheese game, look no further.
I made Marmite Mac and Cheese topped with Nairn's new Marmite & Cheese Oatcakes, which gave it a golden and crispy top and it was unbelievable.
Whether you love or hate Marmite, you have to give it a go, just once.
Adding Marmite brings this delicious umami saltiness to the mac and cheese, and the Nairn's Marmite & Cheese Oatcakes give the perfect crunch to accompany the creaminess of the melted cheese.
You can find the NEW Nairn’s Marmite & Cheese Oatcakes in Waitrose & Sainsbury’s.
If I were you, I’d add them to your festive cheese board, eat them as a snack on their own, or do what I’ve done and add them to this recipe.
Recipe, serves 2-3
THE ROUX
40g butter
2-3 heaped tbsp plain flour
1 cup of milk (this may be more or less for you, depending on the cheese and milk you’re using, so just add it gradually)
200g grated cheese - I used a mix of gruyere and cheddar
1 1/2 tsp marmite
1/2 tsp mustard
Salt and pepper
2 cups pasta of choice
TO TOP
2 Nairns x marmite oat cakes, crumbled
Sprinkle of grated cheese of choice
Method
Preheat your oven to 200°C.
Bring a pan of water to the boil, salt it well, then add your pasta, allowing it to gently boil for 7-10 minutes, or until the texture you like - I made mine al dente.
For the roux sauce, melt your butter on medium-low heat in a saucepan, then once melted, whisk through your flour and oat flour until you have a smooth paste.
Add splashes of milk bit by bit, whisking so your paste gets thinner and thinner, but stays smooth.
You want it to become the consistency of double cream - once it’s reached this point, add your grated cheese and mustard, and marmite.
Season with salt and pepper, continuing to whisk on medium low heat so your cheese melts, and you end up with a cheese sauce.
If the consistency is too runny, add 1 tbsp more flour, and some more cheese - if it’s too thick, add a splash more milk.
When your pasta has cooked, drain it, then add it into the cheese sauce.
Mix together well, so every piece of pasta is coated, then pour into your oven-safe dish to bake.
Crumble 3-4 of your Nairns oatcakes into small pieces, then sprinkle some grated cheese over the top of your Mac & cheese, sprinkling your oat cakes on top.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and started to brown.
Leave to rest for a few minutes, then serve.
Notes + Variations:
Use whichever pasta shape and cheese you have in - there’s no right way to do it really, it’s all down to how you like it :P.
