How to make Delicia Bale’s baked squash mac and cheese

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

Ingredients:
(Serves 4)

1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into chunks
4tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
2tbsp chopped sage
2tbsp thyme leaves
60g plain flour
900ml semi-skimmed milk
2tsp Dijon mustard
75g mature Cheddar cheese, grated
50g vegetarian Italian hard cheese, grated
400g wholegrain macaroni
Salt and black pepper

For the topping:
4tbsp breadcrumbs
Grated Cheddar cheese
Thyme

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC.

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.

Unprocessed Made Easy by Delicia Bale ANutr is published in hardback by Ebury Press, priced £20. Photography by Delicia Bale. Available now