A healthier mac and cheese? Try this baked squash recipe

Want to start cutting ultra-processed foods from your diet? Nutritionist Delicia Bale is here to help with her new cookbook, Unprocessed Made Easy.

“This healthy twist on mac and cheese includes a serving of butternut squash, which makes the sauce super creamy,” she says. “The wholegrain macaroni also adds in some extra fibre.”

Baked squash mac and cheese

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into chunks

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 garlic clove, minced

2 tbsp chopped sage

2 tbsp thyme leaves

60g plain flour

900ml semi-skimmed milk

2 tsp Dijon mustard

75g mature Cheddar cheese, grated

50g vegetarian Italian hard cheese, grated

400g wholegrain macaroni

Salt and black pepper

For the topping:

4 tbsp breadcrumbs

Grated Cheddar cheese

Thyme

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C.

2. Place the butternut squash in a baking tray along with half the olive oil and some salt and pepper. Roast the squash for 20-30 minutes until soft and golden brown.

3. Cook the remaining olive oil, garlic, sage and thyme in a pan for a couple of minutes until fragrant.

4. Then add the flour and mix together. Cook this for a couple of minutes. Gradually add the milk, a bit at a time, mixing in between to avoid lumps until it thickens.

5. Stir in the mustard, cheeses and roasted butternut squash and cook for a couple of minutes, then blend until smooth.

6. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package directions.

7. Stir the cooked pasta and sauce together, then transfer to an ovenproof dish and top with breadcrumbs, grated Cheddar cheese and thyme. Then grill for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and golden.

Recipe from ‘Unprocessed Made Easy’ by Delicia Bale (Ebury Press, £20).