Last updated on June 17th, 2019 at 05:59 pm
* This is a sponsored post for Barber’s Cheese *
Healthy Mac and Cheese? You read that right! A big bowl for under 350 calories and it tastes delicious. This is what dreams are made of. An added bonus is that some vegetables that have been sneaked in – so a great dish for kids too.
When I think of comfort food, it is mac and cheese that comes to mind – pasta and cheese, what’s more comforting than that? The usual recipes for mac and cheese really pack in the calories, but our recipe is much healthier with some subtle changes and some healthy additions.
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This recipe is also a great way to get kids, or fussy eaters, to eat vegetables without them even knowing it. There is cauliflower mixed in to this and as someone who really doesn’t enjoy cauliflower (Dannii loves it though), I couldn’t even taste it in there. Try it on someone and see if they can taste it. I am also a self-confessed mac and cheese fanatic – I would probably class it as one of my favourite meals (I am a big kid at heart). This is one of the best versions of mac and cheese I have tasted (lobster and truffle mac and cheese would get the number one spot) – so take that as a seal of approval.
Don’t be put off of by Greek yoghurt being in the recipe, as I know some of you aren’t fans. You can’t taste it at all, and it isn’t like eating plain Greek yoghurt. It is just used to give creaminess instead of making a cheese sauce with milk, butter and flour, and cheese of course, but that is still in there as it wouldn’t be mac and cheese without it.
Speaking of cheese, we don’t just use any cheese when we cook – we only use the best and this recipe uses Barber’s 1833 Vintage Reserve Cheddar. If you like strong cheddar, like we do, then you have to give this a try. It is matured for a minimum of 2 years to provide a cheddar that is “powerfully intense and complex with an exceptional depth of flavour” and it definitely delivers on that promise. The flavour is seriously intense, but not too overpowering – so the perfect balance really.
“The Barber family have been making cheddar cheese for longer than anyone else worldwide. So, when it comes to combining the finest West Country milk with traditional manufacturing methods to produce award-winning cheese, we’d like to think that we’ve learnt a thing or two.”
There is nothing wrong with a little bit of cheese as part of a healthy diet, just don’t go overboard. This recipe has plenty of cheese to give it flavour, but not so much that you get the cheese sweats after. Using a vintage cheddar like we have in this recipes means that you don’t have to use so much of it because of the strong flavour. If you want some more cheesy recipes to try, take a look at the Barber’s Recipe Section.
Like most of our recipes, there is so much that you can do with it to adapt it. Use this Healthy Mac and Cheese as the base and then start getting creative. Adding some truffles would make it really decedent, or you could add some chunks of chorizo or bacon to make it meaty. We have also stirred through some red onion chutney when it needed using up and that was delicious. There are so many ways to take this simple, but lightened up, mac and cheese to a whole other level.
Healthy Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 200 g Macaroni pasta (7oz / 2 cup)
- 1 Large head of cauliflower, cut into very tiny pieces
- 6 tbsp 0% Greek yoghurt
- 100 g Light mature cheddar cheese, grated (4oz)
- 0.5 tsp English mustard powder
- 0.5 tsp Garlic powder
- 2 tbsp Fresh chopped chives (optional)
- Sea salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Add the macaroni to a pan of boiling water and cook for 12-15 minutes.
- Add the cauliflower to the pan 5 minutes before the pasta is finished.
- Drain the pasta and cauliflower and put back in the pan. Stir in the cheese so that the hot pasta starts to melt it.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
- Divide between bowls and top with chives if using.
Notes
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
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**This recipe was commissioned by Barber’s, however, all opinions are my own**
Julia says
I’ve had to have 3 cracks at this to get it right! And by “get it right” I mean “get the kids to eat it.” I don’t have access to the cheese brand recommended above (I’m in Australia) so I first tried with a regular supermarket tasty cheddar, then a vintage cheddar – not enough flavour, even though I added tons more cheese after taste testing to try and make it cheesier. So I then tried with an aged cheddar, the kind you would put on a cheeseboard, and success! Definitely only 100g required. My kids hated the mustard powder and garlic powder the first time, so I tried half tablespoons on my second go – still too strong. Third attempt, 1 teaspoon of each. Perfect. Also, broccoli works well as a substitute for cauliflower. Thanks, lovely easy dinner now that I’ve mastered it!
Dannii says
So glad you enjoyed it and found a way to adapt it so that your whole family enjoys it :)
Robert says
The quality of the cheese has such an effect on the quality of taste. Great recipe.
Shivani Pahuja says
I made this today after reading your article.Great taste..I love mac and cheese..
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
I loooove macaroni cheese – I would quite happily have it every day with a big slab of garlic bread! This sounds like a much healthier alternative though. Using a good quality mature cheese really does mean you can use less doesn’t it!
Lacey@fairytalesandfitness says
Wait a sec, healthy mac n cheese? I don’t believe it. I will be trying this one.