Macaroni and Cheese Mauritian style

As mentioned previously on my blog , Mauritius cuisine is a fusion of many different cultures and our pasta dishes do not escape this ! My aunt used to make this macaroni and cheese dish all the time when we were younger and we would eat it with hot sauce and tomato salsa (recipes for Mauritian tomato salsa or Chutney de pomme d'amour will be posted soon) ! It is such a comfort food.
The herb that is used profusely in Mauritius is Thyme . Very fragrant, Thyme is used in many dishes and is once again from the french influence (Thyme is a component of the herbes de provence and bouquet garni in french cuisine). Thyme is sometimes even used in making curries in Mauritius and adds a delightful twist to many other dishes !

INGREDIENTS:

- 500 grm macaroni
- 400 grm of ground beef
-2 tomatoes crushed
-3 cloves of garlic
-1 onion chopped
-1 cup of breadcrumbs
-2 cups of grated cheddar cheese (or more according to taste)
-1-2 green chillies
-Thymes
-2-3 tbs oil
-Salt and Pepper

METHOD:

• Boil macaroni as per instruction on the box and set aside
• Heat oil in a pan
• Add chopped onions and garlic
• Fry until light brown
• Add meat , salt and pepper
• Fry until meat turns golden brown and there is no more water
• Now add the crushed tomatoes and green chillies
• Allow to cook on low heat until you see the oil around the side of the pan
• Time to add the thyme !
• Now you may add your macaroni and mix well
• Add the grated cheese and breadcrumbs and mix properly
• Serve hot with a tomato salsa or hot sauce

TIPS:

• You may add more cheese on top and put under the broiler until bubbly ! The more cheese the better is the rule here !