How do you fancy a stunningly smooth, creamy cheese sauce with a harissa kick, generously enveloping perfectly cooked pasta and topped with a sprinkling of impossibly tempting cheese? And how about if the whole dish is gluten-free?
Well, thanks to MasterChef UK 2016 Champion Jane Devonshire, I have the perfect recipe for you that ticks every single box that good mac and cheese should tick - it's comforting, creamy, smooth and delicious.
This harissa mac and cheese recipe is featured in Jane's debut cookbook, Hassle Free Gluten Free, which has been released in association with Coeliac UK, and features 100 delicious and easy-to-make recipes.
Jane's inspiration comes from feeding her 14-year-old son, who has coeliac disease - a lifelong autoimmune disease that means it's essential he doesn't consume any gluten. With so many years of experience creating comforting meals for her family, it's no surprise that Hassle Free Gluten Free is packed with fantastically tasty dishes that everyone will love.
In Jane's book, you'll find everything from soups, to pasta, cakes, to arancini - there's something to please everyone.
I decided to make her harissa mac and cheese to share with you all. It's a wonderfully creamy, moreish dish, and the addition of harissa is absolutely inspired. We all love it.
About this dish, Jane writes:
"If I fed Ben his favourite mac and cheese every day, he would be in heaven - I think it's the whole teenage carb-loading thing. This recipe is for my standard cheese sauce, which works perfectly every time with this quantity of pasta. The addition of harissa gives it a bit of spice and a lovely warming feel for those cold nights, however I have been known to throw leeks, ham, lots of vegetables and other things that need eating up into the pasta just before it goes into the oven - it's one of those wonderfully adaptable dishes."
Here's how to make it.
Ingredients
- 400 g (14.11 oz) gluten-free pasta I use penne or fusilli as gluten-free macaroni can be hard to find
- 6 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
- 800 ml (1.69 pint) whole milk plus a little extra for making the cornflour paste
- 250 g (8.82 oz) extra-mature Cheddar cheese grated, plus extra for sprinkling (vegetarian if required)
- 50 g (1.76 oz) Parmesan or vegetarian hard cheese alternative grated
- 2 tbsp harissa paste make sure it's gluten-free
- pinch sea salt flakes
Equipment
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/400°F/Gas Mark 6. Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the pasta and parboil for 6-7 minutes; it needs to be about half-cooked. Drain the pasta and set aside.
Mix the cornflour with a little milk until it is the consistency of double cream.
Put the milk into a saucepan and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and slowly add the cornflour paste, stirring or whisking all the time. Keep stirring/whisking for a couple of minutes – the milk will thicken quickly but you need to cook out the cornflour.
Remove from the heat and immediately add the Cheddar and Parmesan. Beat in until you have a smooth, thick cheese sauce.
Add the harissa paste and salt and stir in.
Add the partially cooked pasta, stir through.
(Look at how gorgeous and creamy it is!!)
Place in a baking dish (my pan was ovenproof so I didn't need to) and sprinkle over a little extra cheddar cheese (I put quite a large handful on because J and JD like a crisp cheese top on their mac and cheese with all the creamy goodness beneath).
Place in the oven for 30 minutes, until golden and bubbling. This is best eaten as soon as you can without the cheese burning your mouth.
We are so impressed, Jane! This recipe out-of-this-world delicious! Don't forget to pick up Jane's book for yourself. It's available to buy now!
What did you think of this delicious gluten-free harissa mac and cheese recipe? Will you give it a go?
Print this gluten-free harissa mac and cheese recipe
Gluten Free Harissa Mac and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 400 g (14.11 oz) gluten-free pasta I use penne or fusilli as gluten-free macaroni can be hard to find
- 6 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
- 800 ml (1.69 pint) whole milk plus a little extra for making the cornflour paste
- 250 g (8.82 oz) extra-mature Cheddar cheese grated, plus extra for sprinkling (vegetarian if required)
- 50 g (1.76 oz) Parmesan or vegetarian hard cheese alternative grated
- 2 tbsp harissa paste make sure it's gluten-free
- pinch sea salt flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/400°F/Gas Mark 6. Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the pasta and parboil for 6-7 minutes; it needs to be about half-cooked. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Mix the cornflour with a little milk until it is the consistency of double cream.
- Put the milk into a saucepan and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and slowly add the cornflour paste, stirring or whisking all the time. Keep stirring/whisking for a couple of minutes – the milk will thicken quickly but you need to cook out the cornflour.
- Remove from the heat and immediately add the Cheddar and Parmesan. Beat in until you have a smooth, thick cheese sauce.
- Add the harissa paste and salt and stir in, then add the partially cooked pasta, stir through, and place in a baking dish.
- Sprinkle over a little extra Cheddar cheese and place in the oven for 30 minutes, until golden and bubbling. This is best eaten as soon as you can without the cheese burning your mouth.
Video
Nutrition
Bloomsbury sent me a copy of the book. Recipe reproduced with permission.
Pin this gluten-free harissa macaroni cheese
Try these great gluten-free recipes next!
Have you got my book?
'This is a great kids cookery book. Emily is a star' - Simon Rimmer
'The book I'd like to force into any mother's kitchen' - Prue Leith
"A fab book with a plan." - Jane Devonshire, 2016 Masterchef UK winner
'Emily has managed to combine her mummy knowledge and passion for food to make a truly helpful and brilliant cookbook' - Priya Tew, RD, BSc (Hons), Msc
Get Your Kids to Eat Anything is an achievable 'how to' for parents in the battle to overcome picky eating and 'make new the norm'. Emily Leary's unique 5-phase programme looks at the issue of 'fussy eating' in a holistic way that links imagination with food, and which situates parents alongside - not in opposition to - their children.
Sue-Tanya Mchorgh says
Mac and cheese is one of my favourites. I would definitely love to try this.
Emily Leary says
I hope you do decide to give this delicious recipe a go - it's really delicious!
Catherine Santiago Jose says
Mac and cheese are one of my favorites dishes to have on every occasion and I am sure that this is a winner recipe for my family.
Emily Leary says
Mac and cheese is definitely one of my favourites and this delicious recipe makes a perfect meal on these chilly autumn evenings. Enjoy!
Victoria says
I love mac and cheese. But your recipe has a new twist, thanks!
Emily Leary says
What's not to love about mac and cheese? Jane's recipe is so delicious - we all love it in our house!
Michelle Kellogg says
I've never heard of Hariska. I'm not sure if they sell it in my neck of the woods but I'll keep a look out and if I find it I would like to try it. The dish looks delicious!
Emily Leary says
I hope you find harissa paste - this recipe is so delicious!
fashionandstylepolice says
My kids love Mac and Cheese. I LOVE how you displayed every step with amazing photography.
Emily Leary says
Thank you! My kids (and the grown ups) all love this delicious recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do :)
catherine shane says
Wow what a delicious cheesy i love this thanks for sharing this delicious recipe i will make it this coming christmas., yummmy
Emily Leary says
Yes - Jane Devonshire's recipe is lovely! I'm sure you'll all enjoy it!
Anosa says
I love the quote from Jane, my mum was the same if she sounds dished we loved as teenagers she made them regularly and creatively. Love the look of this mac and cheese
Emily Leary says
Yes, it's a really lovely recipe and we love it in our house. It's a perfect meal for these chilly autumn evenings!
stacey says
This looks delicious. A yummy mac and cheese can make any day a little better.
Emily Leary says
I totally agree! Enjoy :)
Joy says
Yes another amazing recipe from you. Thank you for sharing this. I will definitely be trying it out during the holiday season.
Emily Leary says
I'm sure you won't be disappointed - It's a really tasty dish!
Yanna says
Oh my gosh. I got hungry just looking at it! Yummy! I want to try all your recipes, to be honest.
Emily Leary says
Thank you! This wonderfully tasty dish from Jane Devonshire is well worth a go - we love it in our house!