Low Fat & Healthy Mac and Cheese

Low Fat & Healthy Mac and Cheese

Is there a better comfort food than pasta mixed with cheese? If you’re looking for a delicious version that you can indulge in guilt-free, look no further than this healthy mac and cheese from Great British Bake Off finalist, Sandro Farmhouse. His mouth-wateringly creamy yet wonderfully low-fat mac and cheese recipe is made with Arla B.O.B Semi Skimmed Milk for the same creamy flavour of full-fat milk with half the fat. To get the same great taste as full-fat cheddar with 30% less fat, just swap in some Arla B.O.B Cheddar instead. The result? An oh-so-creamy macaroni cheese dish that’s not so naughty!
https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/recipes/arla-bob-healthy-mac-cheese/

Instructions

Instructions
  • Start by filling a large pan with water, bring it to a boil and drizzle in a small amount of olive oil and add a pinch of salt.
  • When the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook for 2 minutes less than the packet instructions.
  • Preheat the oven to 200c/180c fan and lightly grease a skillet pan.
  • In the meantime, make the cheese sauce.
  • In a saucepan, cook the butter with the garlic paste and the mustard until the butter has melted.
  • Mix in the plain flour to make a thin paste then pour the Arla B.O.B semi-skimmed in and stir well to combine.
  • Cook the milky mixture until it begins to thicken then mix in the grated cheese along with the goat’s cheese and mango stilton.
  • Remove the cheesy cream from the heat and set aside.
  • Drain the pasta and mix in with the cheesy sauce until it’s well combined, then spoon the mixture into a skillet pan.
  • Scatter the grated cheese over the pasta.
  • Cut the baton into small chunks, place them into a bowl with the melted butter, a drizzle of olive oil, the garlic paste, oregano and parsley, and toss well to coat evenly.
  • Place the bread on top of the cheese and place the skillet into the oven to cook for 20-25 minutes.
  • If adding chorizo, cut into bite-sized pieces and add 15 minutes before the end.
  • Remove the skillet from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley and red chilli if desired.
  • Serve and enjoy!
Enjoy!

Healthy mac and cheese recipe FAQs

Why is this mac and cheese recipe healthy?
Usually, mac and cheese is quite high in fat because of its milk and cheese content. However, this recipe is guilt-free as it uses Arla B.O.B semi-skimmed milk which contains half the fat of whole milk but with the same deliciously creamy taste. Using Arla B.O.B Mature Cheddar also gives you the same great flavour as regular cheddar cheese, with 30% less fat.
Is mac and cheese healthy?
There’s nothing wrong with indulging in the occasional bowl of comforting mac and cheese! Just make sure it’s part of a balanced diet and that you eat plenty of fruit and veg throughout the rest of the week too.
Can I eat macaroni and still lose weight?
Yes, you can still enjoy this cheesy dish as part of a balanced, calorie-controlled diet. To make it even healthier, use low- fat cheese and exercise good portion control.
Is macaroni healthy?
Macaroni is a fantastic addition to a healthy and varied diet. Choose wholewheat macaroni for a great source of fibre, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
What to serve with healthy mac and cheese?
If you want to make your mac and cheese recipe even healthier, try serving smaller portions alongside a fresh side salad, a spoonful of green peas or some steamed veggies.
How to make creamy mac and cheese?
The trick to making your mac and cheese recipe extra creamy is to use good-quality milk and a selection of different cheeses. This will add flavour and help you achieve the perfect texture when you take it out of the oven.

Ingredients

For the pasta
Dried pasta
300 g
Pinch of salt
Drizzle of olive oil
For the creamy filling
Butter
50 g
Garlic paste
2 tsp
Wholegrain mustard
2 tsp
Plain flour
40 g
Arla B.O.B semi-skimmed milk
600 ml
Cheddar cheese, grated
225 g
Goat cheese
75 g
Mango and Ginger white stilton cheese
75 g
For the topping
Grated cheese for the topping
200 g
Bread baton
1
Butter
50 g
Oregano
1 tsp
Dried leaf parsley
1 tsp
Garlic paste
1 tsp
Drizzle of garlic olive oil
Chorizo (optional)
For the garnish
Fresh parsley leaves
Red chilli pepper, sliced (optional)
1