'Delicious' mac and cheese recipe you can make using festive leftovers

02 January 2024 , 14:42

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Mac and cheese is the perfect winter warmer this January (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It’s officially the New Year, which means kitchens across the UK will be brimming with leftover cheese from the holiday season.

Fortunately, a professional chef has shared his delicious mac and cheese recipe that makes fantastic use of your festive fromage. As Brits head back to work in the blustery temperatures, a hearty bowl of cheesy pasta is the perfect winter warmer - so why not rustle this dish up for yourself?

Cookbook author and TV host Donal Skehan took to TikTok to share the simple steps, as he said: "If you are at that point where the leftovers are literally crawling out of your fridge, it’s time to make my leftovers mac and cheese." He kicked off the video with footage of the mouth-watering meal, which guarantees the perfect cheese pull. The cook then shared the recipe which can be found below.

Ingredients

• 300g macaroni (or other pasta)
• One tbsp olive oil
• 50g butter
• Two onions (thinly sliced)
• One garlic clove (grated)
• Sage leaves
• 30g plain flour
• 400ml milk
• 150g blue cheese (crumbled)
• 150g gruyere (grated)
• 150g cheddar (grated)
• 200g brussel sprouts
• 400g leftovers ham (shredded)
• Sea salt and black pepper

Method

• To start making this comforting centrepiece, simply bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add the pasta. This should be cooked in accordance with the packet instructions. Then preheat the oven to 200°C or 180°C fan.
• Next, add the oil and butter to an ovenproof pan over a medium heat. Once this has melted, add the onion, garlic and sage, and sauté for around 20-minutes, or until the onions have caramelised.
• Season the contents with salt to "help break down the onions", making sure to stir occasionally. Then, add the flour and cook for a further two-minutes, before adding the milk. Bring this to a gentle boil, then slowly stir through half of the cheeses until melted.
• Stir in the cooked pasta, a ladle of pasta water, the sprouts and ham. Season to taste, and top with the remaining cheese. Place the pan in the oven for around 15 to 20-minutes, until perfectly golden. Once ready, serve and enjoy!

Donal concluded: "It’s the type of comfort food I want to eat after I have polished off a Selection Box, a packet of After Eights and an entire tray of Ferrero Rocher. It’s seriously good and a great way to use up your leftovers."

Followers flocked to the comments sections to share their reaction to the recipe, as one user gushed: "Looks delicious, definitely going to make it, love your recipes," while another penned: "I’m definitely making this in the week!!"

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