To me, mac and cheese is probably one of the best comfort foods on the planet. If I was stranded on an island this is the food which I would like to be stranded with. I don't know how I am going to get mac and cheese on a stranded island, but hey a girl can have her stranded island food dreams right ? But right now I am making my mac and cheese dreams a reality with this spicy Butternut Mac and Cheese with Garlic Croutons. It is seriously out of this world delicious, but real... oh you know what I mean.
I am totally in love with this recipe. The macaroni is folded into a spicy and creamy butternut sauce and topped with crunchy garlic croutons and parmesan. The taste and texture are simply amazing. Perfectly comforting dinner on a cold evening.
Butternut has that delicious sweet taste on its own, so it is simply cooked in a mixture of milk and water. I avoided cooking it with any stock or broth and by adding a bit of crushed chilli flakes, created that sweet spicy taste to the macaroni. Change things a bit by topping with croutons instead of breadcrumbs creating a great crunchy texture and delicious garlic taste.
Making the Spicy Butternut Mac and Cheese
Like I mentioned earlier, the butternut is simply cooked until tender in a mixture of water and milk. No stock or broth is used, because I think that the taste of butternut is absolutely great on its own. It is then blended with a bit of cream if you like to get that smooth texture. Grated cheese and chilli flakes are sprinkled into the butternut. The macaroni which is boiled with a bit of chopped kale is folded into this creamy, spicy butternut sauce. Topped with crunchy garlic herb croutons and parmesan .... get ready to dive in because dinner is ready !
Making the Garlic Croutons
These smell soooo good while cooking and because it has garlic and herbs it is even better. My advise is double this recipe of croutons because you might just eat all of these after it is cooked and there might just not be enough to top the macaroni. Just saying ?
You will need about 4 slices of bread cut up into 3cm / 2 inch cubes. It’s a good idea to leave the crust on the bread, because it will give the croutons some extra crunch. Drizzle or roll the bread cubes in the seasoned oil until evenly coated. Spread the coated cubes of bread onto a baking sheet and bake at 180°C for about 10-15 minutes. The bread cubes can also be tossed around in a frying pan on medium heat, if you do not want to use the oven. Just ensure that you move them around in the pan every few minutes, so that they do not burn. Remove the croutons from the stove arrange on the prepared butternut mac and cheese.
Please note that using kale is totally optional, I just love the taste and it really gives this dish a great contrasting colour. Kale cooks very quickly so it is added into the boiling macaroni during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Okay this is the version of mac and cheese I would prefer/ like /dream to have with me when I am stranded on an island. But for now, I am not dreaming I am on my way to raid the fridge for the leftovers...before anybody else gets to it.
Enjoy ♥
Spicy Butternut Mac and Cheese with Garlic Croutons
Ingredients
FOR THE BUTTERNUT SAUCE
- 415 g / 3 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash
- 310 ml / 1¼ cups water
- 250 ml milk / 1 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons minced or finely chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon or less chilli powder depending on how spicy you prefer
- ¼ cup cream or milk to use when blending the butternut
- 1 cup grated cheese I used cheddar
- 450 g pasta any shape or variety is fine to use
- About 4 leaves of chopped kale optional
- salt and pepper to taste
FOR THE GARLIC CROUTONS
- 3 or 4 slices of bread cut into 3cm / 2 inch cubes do not remove the crust
- 30 ml / 2 Tablespoons oil
- 30 g margarine
- 2 cloves of garlic crushed
- 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
- ½ teaspoon crushed dried chilli flakes
Instructions
FOR THE BUTTERNUT SAUCE
- Combine the butternut, water, milk, and garlic and chilli powder ( if using )in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and until the butternut is tender. This should take about 15 minutes. Allow to cool before pouring into a blender with some milk or cream and blend until smooth.
- Pour into a pot and add grated cheese and dried chilli flakes ( if using) Set aside
- Boil the pasta according to the package instructions. Cook the pasta just until al dente, the pasta should not be too soft, it should be cooked but be still a little firm.
- When the macaroni has just 5 minutes left to cook, toss in the chopped kale ( if using)
- Strain out the water from the macaroni and kale and fold into the prepared butternut sauce. Top with garlic croutons and parmesan if you prefer.
FOR THE GARLIC CROUTONS
- Simmer oil, butter or margarine, garlic, dried mixed herbs and crushed chillies in a pan. Allow this to simmer just until the butter or margarine has melted.
- Remove from the heat and allow the flavours to infuse while you chop up your bread.
- Cut bread into 3 inch cubes. Drizzle the oil or roll the bread cubes in the oil until evenly coated.
- You can either bake the seasoned bread cubes at 180°C in the oven for 15 minutes or fry them in a pan, on the stove for 15 minutes, just until they are crunchy.Remove the croutons from the heat arrange on the macaroni with grated parmesan if you prefer.
Denise Browning says
Love the crouton addition for the crunch. It looks amazing!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Denise, haha...I call the croutons the crowning glory on this mac and cheese 🙂
Have a great weekend 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
An ultimate comfort food! YUMMY!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Angie 🙂
Maria | kitchenathoskins says
That garlic croutons is the bomb!!! The pasta looks to comforting and perfect for this time of the year, delish.
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Maria...oh yes it is so yummy and comforting...perfect winter food 🙂
heather (delicious not gorgeous) says
normally i don't have croutons on my mac and cheese but you have me re-thinking that!!! i love garlic croutons, and i'm wondering why the heck i've been going so many yrs without them on my mac and cheese now.
The Gardening Foodie says
Haha...when I tried the croutons on the mac and cheese for the first time, I wondered exactly that. It tastes so good, and I hope that you get to try it out the next time you prepare your mac and cheese 🙂
neil@neilshealthymeals.com says
Yes I totally agree Ashika, Mac and cheese IS one of the best comfort foods on the planet. I've not had Mac and cheese with garlic croutons in before. What a fabulous idea! I do agree that Butternut Squash has a delicious sweet taste on its own. I make a lovely creamy butternut squash soup so I know what you mean. Thanks for this recipe Ashika and have a great weekend!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Neil, I hope that you get a chance to try it with with the croutons...it really tastes good.
And oh yes, butternut has such great flavour, I prefer to cook it in just water.
Have a great weekend as well Neil 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
I would never say no to mac n cheese!!! It is one of my go-to meals when I don't feel like cooking. It's so easy, and so delicious. Those garlic croutons are such a perfect addition!! I also love that little bit of spice in there. GREAT dish, Ashika!!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Katherine, so true, it really is an easy meal to prepare and the garlic croutons and spice make such a delicious difference, I hope that you get a chance to try it out too 🙂
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
So many layers of deliciousness going on in this Mac n cheese! I love how you incorporated butternut squash into this recipe! Yum!!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Kelly, the butternut adds such a yummy sweetness to this dish 🙂
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
Love this spin on traditional mac and cheese! And those garlic croutons sound fantastic!! I bet they add an awesome crunch!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Leanne,oh yes they really add great taste and texture to this recipe 🙂
annie@ciaochowbambina says
I would never question a person's dreams! And yours are right up my alley! This dish is the food of dreamers - especially with those gorgeous croutons!! 🙂
The Gardening Foodie says
Haha thank you Annie, you could never dream wrong with mac and cheese right 🙂
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
This is the mac and cheese of my dreams! I love butternut and spice and alllll forms of cheesy pasta. I'm definitely going to make this sooner rather than later! Have a great week, Ashika!
Have a great week as well Kelsie 🙂
The Gardening Foodie says
Aww thank you Kelsie, mac and cheese really is a great dish with so many ways to add to it. I hope that you get to try it out soon 🙂
Laura says
This is beautiful, and sounds just scrumptious! My family loves Mac n cheese and I like the idea of the squash with it. (Always the mom, you know!). Thanks for the recipe, Ashika!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Laura...mac and cheese really is the best.
Haha, I know what you mean, I also love sneaking in veggies in all food, and mac and cheese makes the perfect place 🙂
Emma - Bake Then Eat says
Mac & Cheese is my ultimate comfort food and your version here had me drooling. I so want a bowl!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Emma...sending a bowl right over 🙂