Green Mac & Cheese

Creamy, Comforting, Secretly Nutritious! Velvety cheddar and parmesan envelop tender pasta with a vibrant spinach twist, this is comfort food that actually loves you back.

Ingredients for Green Mac & Cheese

Makes enough for 1 generous serving

If preparing for more than One per person, just scale and multiply ingredients as needed 

• 11g (2¼ tsp) unsalted butter
• 1g (¼ tsp) fresh garlic, minced (or 1 small clove, minced)
• 3g (½ tsp) fresh shallots, finely diced (or 1 small shallot)
• 6g (1 tsp) Fresh Herb de Provence (Marjoram, Basil, Oregano, and Thyme)
• 11g (1 tbsp) plain flour
• 68g (¼ cup + 1 tbsp) double cream
• 68g (¼ cup + 1 tbsp) whole milk
• 3g (½ tsp) vegetable stock powder (or ¼ vegetable stock cube)
• 3g (½ tsp) fine sea salt
• 2g (¼ tsp) cracked black pepper
• 23g (3 tbsp grated) mature cheddar cheese

For the Green Mac & Cheese (943g batch):

• 8g (small handful) fresh spinach
• 28g (2 tbsp) whole milk
• (1 tbsp grated) (80% cheddar, 20% parmesan) - for internal mixing
• (1 tbsp grated) (80% cheddar, 20% parmesan) - for topping
• (¼ cup dried, or ¾ cup cooked) (macaroni, penne, or rigatoni work beautifully)
• (2 tbsp) prepared béchamel sauce (from above)

Cooking Times/Oven Settings

• Cooking Time: 14 minutes
• Temperature: 170°C (338°F)
• Humidity: 70%

(Allergens: Contains Dairy (Milk) & Gluten (Wheat)

Recipe 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Part 1: Making the Béchamel Sauce

Step 1: Create the Butter Base
In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt butter over gentle heat. You want it fully melted but not browning, patience here sets you up for success.

Step 2: Build the Aromatic Foundation
Add minced fresh garlic and finely diced shallots to the melted butter. Sauté gently for 2-3 minutes until softened and fragrant, but crucially, don’t let them take on any colour. This creates a subtle aromatic base without harsh, caramelized notes.

Step 3: Bloom the Herbs and Create the Roux
Stir in fresh mixed herbs, followed immediately by plain flour. Whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste and create a smooth roux, the thickening agent that gives your sauce its luxurious body.

Step 4: Add the Dairy Gradually
This is the crucial step. Slowly pour in the double cream and whole milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Start with about a quarter of the liquid, whisking until completely smooth, then gradually add the rest. Don’t rush this, smooth, silky béchamel is worth the extra minute of whisking.

Step 5: Season and Simmer
Add vegetable stock powder, sea salt, and cracked black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, whisking occasionally. Let it bubble away for 5-7 minutes until it thickens to a glossy, coat-the-back-of-a-spoon consistency.

Step 6: The Cheese Finish
Remove from heat and stir in grated mature cheddar. Watch it melt into the sauce, creating ribbons of molten gold. Stir until completely smooth. This is the moment to pause and appreciate what you’ve created, proper béchamel is a thing of beauty.

Part 2: Assembling the Green Mac & Cheese

Step 7: Prepare Your Pasta
Cook pasta according to package directions, but drain it 1 minute shy of al dente, it will continue cooking in the oven. Rinse briefly under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Step 8: Wilt the Spinach
In the still-warm pot, add fresh spinach leaves along with whole milk. The residual heat will wilt the spinach perfectly. Stir gently until the leaves are tender and bright green, this takes just 2-3 minutes.

Step 9: Combine Everything
Add the cooked pasta back to the pot along with of your prepared béchamel sauce and cheese mix (remember, this is your 80/20 cheddar-parmesan blend). Fold everything together gently but thoroughly. The sauce should coat every piece of pasta, and you should see beautiful green ribbons of spinach throughout.

Step 10: Transfer and Top
Pour the entire mixture into a well-buttered baking dish. Smooth the top with a spatula, then sprinkle the remaining cheese mix evenly over the surface. This top layer will transform into a golden, slightly crispy cheese crust that provides textural contrast to the creamy interior.

Step 11: Bake to Perfection

Why You’ll Love This Mac & Cheese Recipe

The magic of this dish lies in its multi-layered approach to flavour and texture. The homemade béchamel, enriched with garlic, shallots, and herbs, provides a sophisticated foundation that jar sauce could never match. The two-cheese system, one mixed in, one on top, ensures creaminess throughout while delivering that coveted golden crust.

The spinach adds more than nutrition; it contributes subtle earthy notes that make the dish feel more complex and less one-note than traditional mac and cheese.

Nutritional Highlights

Despite being unapologetically indulgent, Green Mac & Cheese offers genuine nutritional value:

• Spinach provides iron, vitamins A, C, and K, plus folate and antioxidants
• Dairy contributes calcium for bone health and protein for satiation
• Cheese offers concentrated protein and beneficial fats
• Whole milk provides vitamins D and B12