Do you ever crave Mac and Cheese but feel like it’s an absolutely horrible idea for your waistline? That happens to me too!! So I wanted something that was a little similar but has much less fat than your traditional Mac and Cheese that is basically pasta and cheese!! And considering that it’s pumpkin season, why not try pumpkin?! It has a similar color, sort of, no? The good news is, pumpkin has virtually no fats, has an amazing boost in Vitamin A, and even a hint of Vitamin C that is ideal for Autumn when cold season is just around the corner! It also has Vitamin K and Copper, so a good fruit to include in your diet. (Yes, apparently pumpkins are also classified as fruits!)
Ingredients
- Pumpkin
- Onion
- Cheeselet (or Mozzarella)
- Wine
- Milk
- Water
- Caraway
- Pumpkin Spice
- Macaroni
Method
So, start by warming your pan with the cumin and pumpkin spice (if you need to see how that is done, follow the link for our version!!), then add your finely chopped onion and wait until it starts to turn golden. Add some wine and wait until your wine evaporates, we want to get all that sweetness to shine in our onions! Next, add the chopped-up pumpkin and again stir and grill until soft. Simmer in some water to fully cook both the onion and the pumpkin. You can mash them up or even blend them for a smoother, creamier sauce! Now add milk to get your sauce runny and add your cheese of choice. If you are using mozzarella you might want to add some salt to it, if you’re going with the cheeslet it’s nice and salty already. Just be careful to choose a low-fat cheese so avoid cheddar, we want to keep it healthy here!
Now time for our pasta. Just boil as usual and when done, toss your macaroni in the sauce. Mix well and you’re ready to serve!
Variations
Of course, you can play with the balance of the spices and if you dislike cumin you can leave it out or if you need a replacement you can go with aniseed, coriander, or fennel, all have a similar, sweetish taste. Another taste you might want to play with is trying a mix of herbs instead of all the spices, personally, I like more the sweet spices with the pumpkin but your call. Another ingredient you can play with is orange. Usually citrus works well with pumpkin and cloves and nutmeg so, a little orange juice can play nicely with the taste and boost that Vitamin C level! So, what do you think? Will you give our Mac and Pumpkin a go? Let us know in the comments below!