Butternut Macaroni Cheese

preparation

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180° C.

2. Cook the cellantini pasta according to the packet instructions in a large pan of boiling salted water until al dente.

3. Cut 300 g of butternut squash into cubes and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and bake for 10 minutes at 180° C.

4. In a hot saucepan add a bit of olive oil and fry finely chopped shallots and garlic until translucent. Add the rest of the cubed butternut squash (200 g) and dried sage and fry for a few minutes. Add the chicken stock, bring to a boil and let it simmer for 5 minutes.

5. Remove from the heat and blend the mixture. Add grated Castello® Tickler Mature cheddar and continue to blend as the cheese melts. Season with salt and pepper.

6. Drain the pasta and add to the butternut squash- and cheese sauce. Add the baked butternut squash and stir. Pour the butternut mac and cheese into an ovenproof dish or pan and top with grated aged Havarti and fresh sage leaves. Bake at 200°C for 15 minutes.

Sweet butternut squash

Laced with the mild sweetness from the butternut squash, the macaroni and Havarti join to create a distinctively sweet and nutty flavour, with a creamy and subtle finish. Together, they blend and intertwine with each other, producing a comforting and rich taste. Our Butternut Mac and Cheese offers the ultimate in wholesomeness, and is sure to stand out at any potluck or get-together. For when you want to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen, few homemade dishes can compete with macaroni and cheese, and with the addition of butternut squash, even fewer come close.

Picking the right cheese

While it may not surprise many, cheese is almost the main attraction of any dish it stars in. The wrong cheese might seek to combat the flavours of the butternut squash, while others might get subdued. Picking a cheese that plays in harmony with the other ingredients, makes for a much more enjoyable experience, and guarantees that all the tones and aromas are brought out. In our iteration of Butternut Mac and Cheese we chose our Castello® Aged Havarti, since its sharp finish compliments the savoury sweetness of the butternut squash perfectly. Having matured, the crumbly texture of the Havarti ensures that it dissolves quickly and evenly. Earthy aromas from the fresh and dried sage, help form the foundation, and creates a nice contrast to the sweetness from the rest of the dish.