Cavatelli Mac and Cheese
Category
Dinner
Servings
2
Prep Time
60 minutes
Cook Time
60 minutes
Three cheeses, pasta and reminds you of younger days. The caramelised onions really brighten it up. This dish is literally a big hug.

Ingredients
225 g semolina flour
110 ml warm water
25 g butter
1 large onion
25 ml balsamic vinegar
Salt
15 g butter
10 g flour
180 ml milk
100 g cheddar cheese (40 g vintage cheddar, 30 g smoked cheddar, 30 g mild cheddar) *ratios and cheese flexible to your taste
Salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
40 g breadcrumbs
5 thyme sprigs, twig removed and finely chopped
2 rosemary sprigs, twig removed and finely chopped
10 ml olive oil
For the pasta
For the caramelised onions
For the sauce
For the bread crumbs
Directions
Make a well in a mound of the semolina flour
Gently pour water in and incorporate slowly
Knead dough for 15 minutes and cover with a bowl
Once rested cut off a portion with a knife and roll into a rope like shape as thick as an index finger
Use a knife to cut the dough into small pillow shapes
Using a gnocchi board press down and away from you with your thumb so that the dough curls over on itself and forms a pocket
Keep each piece of cavatelli apart from each other and dust with semolina
For the caramelised onions
Slice the onion, don’t worry about being too particular we are going to chop them again later
Melt the butter in a pan on medium/high and add the onions and salt
After a few minutes lower the heat and let the onions caramelise slowly
After 30 minutes add the balsamic vinegar, cook for a few more minutes and remove. Finely chop the onions again and set aside in a bowl
For the breadcrumbs
While waiting for the onions to caramelise toast the bread crumbs in a non stick pan with the olive oil
Once golden remove from pan and add the chopped herbs and set aside
For the sauce/pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil
On low add the butter to the pan that the onions were cooked in, add the flour and whisk well. Once incorporated add the milk a little at a time whilst whisking continuously
At this point add the pasta to the water
And slowly whisk the cheese into the sauce a small handful at a time
Add the onions and cracked pepper to taste
When the pasta is cooked add directly to the pan and mix gently to coat each one in the sauce
Spoon onto a plate and cover in the breadcrumb mix