Spicy | Comfort Food

This isn’t your basic mac and cheese — it’s got a spicy Sri Lankan twist that turns comfort food into a full-on flavour bomb! Think creamy, cheesy sauce meets a warm kick of island spices that make every bite a little exciting. It’s cozy, bold, and guaranteed to steal the spotlight at your next dinner — basically, mac and cheese just got a glow-up.

And if you’re bored of the same old mac and cheese at Thanksgiving, this is your upgrade. It brings that comfort you want with a pop of spice and personality that’ll have everyone asking for the recipe. A little fiery, a lot cheesy — and the perfect way to keep things fun at the dinner table!

Sri Lankan Mac N Cheese

Courses:Vegetarian Main

Difficulty:BeginnerTotal time:1 hour Servings:8 servings

Description

Creamy, cheesy mac and cheese with a Sri Lankan twist — spiced, bold, and the ultimate comfort food upgrade!

Ingredients

Mac N Cheese:

• 300g (about 3 cups) elbow macaroni
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella (for stretch)
• Salt to taste

Spice Blend:

• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 green chili, finely sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ginger, grated
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp roasted curry powder
• 1 tsp chili flakes
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp butter or oil

Topping

• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp butter, melted

Instructions

1. Boil macaroni in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a pan, melt 1 tbsp butter or oil. Add mustard seeds until they pop, then add onions, curry leaves, garlic, ginger, and green chili.
   
3. Sauté until fragrant and lightly golden. Stir in curry powder, chili powder, chili flakes; cook another 30 seconds. Set aside.
4. Stir in cheese and mustard powder until melted and creamy. Season with salt to taste.
5. In a separate pot, melt 2 tbsp butter. Whisk in flour to make a roux and cook for 1 minute.
   Slowly add milk (or milk + coconut milk), whisking until smooth and thickened.
   
6. Add the sautéed spice base to the cheese sauce. Mix well, then toss in cooked pasta until evenly coated.
7. Transfer to a greased baking dish. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese, and melted butter together and sprinkle on top.
   Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20–25 minutes, until bubbly and golden brown.
8. Garnish with extra curry leaves or chili flakes if you’re feeling bold. Serve hot and dig into that crispy, spicy crust

Video

Keywords:Main Course, Comfort Food, Vegetarian, Thanksgiving

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