Cheesy mac with ham
SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 20 MINUTES (+ STANDING TIME)
375g dried macaroni or small spiral pasta 50g butter, chopped
⅓ cup (50g) plain flour
3½ cups (875ml) milk
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 cups (240g) grated tasty cheese
200g leg ham, shredded finely
3 spring onion, sliced thinly green salad, to serve
1 Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling well-salted water, uncovered, until just tender. When pasta is cooked, drain it through a colander. Return to pan.
2 Meanwhile, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour, cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 1 minute or until mixture starts to bubble. This begins to cook the flour. Gradually stir in milk; cook, stirring, until sauce boils and thickens. Stir in mustard, then cheese; stir until melted. 3 Tip the pasta into pan with the sauce; stir well. Stir in three-quarters of the ham and onion; stir over medium heat until hot. Taste, then season with salt and pepper.
4 Sprinkle pasta with remaining ham and onion; serve with salad.
Not suitable to freeze or microwave.