The holiday season is just around the corner, which means a lot of dinner parties filled with the most delicious and decadent foods. If you’re wondering what to bring to thiese gatherings, then try my miso & brie mac & cheese. It’s super decadent, cheesy and umami – perfect pairing with that roast turkey.

There are 3 main components to this dish: The cheeses, miso & pasta.

1. The cheeses: i used a combination of brie cheese, chaddar and red colby jack cheese. For the brie, you can cut off the rind if you want a smoother texture – i couldn’t be bothered with mine so i left mine on!
2. Miso: miso is a Japanese fermented soy bean paste – it tastes a lot better than it sounds and it has incredible flavours. You can find in Asian grocery stores but most big supermarkets these days do stock it!
3. Pasta: i went for the classic elbow shaped pasta but feel free to venture out and try different pasta shapes!

Ingredients

300g (2/3 lb) pasta (i used the classic elbow shaped pasta)
3 tbsp butter
2-3 tbsp miso paste
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1/2 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tbsp onion powder
chilli flakes, to taste
3 tbsp plain flour
3 cups milk, adjust to get desired texture
1 tsp mustard
250g (1/2 lb) brie cheese, remove rind
250g (1/2 lb) cheddar
250g (1/2 lb) colby jack or mozzarella

Method

1. Cook and drain your pasta according to packet instructions and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
3. In a pot over medium heat, melt your butter. Add in the miso paste and melt it into the butter, let it get a little toasty and fragrant, around 1-2 minutes. Add in your spices and toast for another 1-2 minutes.
4. Add in the plain flour and cook out the floury taste for 1-2 minutes. While whisking, slowly add in your milk – stir constantly to avoid lumps. You can add more or less milk to get to your desired texture. Add your brie cheese and 2/3rd of your cheddar and colby jack/mozzarella. Stir to melt the cheese and add in your mustard. Season if needed but the cheeses are already salty!
5. Add the drained pasta into your cheese sauce and stir well to combine. Transfer to a baking dish, top with the remaining cheese and bake for 20 minutes and then broil for 5 mins or until the cheese is melted and golden brown.