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Spicy Butternut Mac and Cheese with Garlic Croutons

Spicy Butternut Mac and Cheese with Garlic Croutons makes the best comfort food, perfect dinner for a cold evening
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.