One-pot macaroni cheese with smoked tofu

One-pot macaroni cheese with smoked tofu: creamy pasta with cheddar, milk and crispy smoked tofu – quick to make and pleasantly hearty.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 5 min
• Cooking time: 15 min
• Total time: 20 min
• Calories: 750 kcal per serving
• Protein: 32 g
• Fat: 40 g
• Carbs: 62 g

Ingredients

• 250g short pasta (macaroni or penne)
• 150g cheddar (grated)
• 400ml milk
• 100g smoked tofu
• 200ml water
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• Salt, black pepper, nutmeg

Method

You’ll need: frying pan · saucepan · grater · wooden spoon

1. Fry the smoked tofu in a large, deep frying pan or saucepan without extra fat until crispy all over. Then remove and set aside briefly.
2. Melt the butter in the same pan. Add the pasta, milk and water and bring everything to the boil once.
3. Simmer over a medium heat, stirring regularly, so the pasta cooks evenly and the liquid thickens until creamy.
4. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the cheddar until completely melted and the sauce is smooth. Season to taste with mustard powder, salt, black pepper and nutmeg.
5. Briefly fold the crispy smoked tofu back in, or keep it for sprinkling over so it keeps some bite.
6. Spoon into bowls, top with the smoked tofu and serve hot straight away.

Good to know

Sometimes it just has to be creamy, hearty and simple. This is exactly that kind of meal. Everything in one pan, little effort, lots of comfort.

Swaps

Cheddar → Alpine cheese (such as Gruyère; often a little stronger in flavour, also provides protein). Milk → unsweetened soya milk (plant-based option with protein). Butter → ghee (pure butterfat; contains milk). Short pasta → wholewheat pasta (also provides fibre).

Allergens

Contains gluten, milk, soya and mustard. Generally fine for children if seasoned sparingly, and in pregnancy pasteurised dairy and smoked tofu heated right through are the safe choice.