If you are considering going to university this year and have already decided what course and university you are going for, chances are you are already aware of the stereotypes of the pot noodle and beans diet, where students have been unable to cook for themselves and end up living on beans and toasts or pot noodles.

However, this isn’t always the case for most students; here is how you can make one of our favourite dishes that we recommend that every student should try to make at least once.

Cheesy mince pasta bake recipe 

Serves 4
Prep time 30 mins
Cooking time: 30 mins (however may need an extra ten mins)

Ingredients:

175g pasta spirals
2tbsp oil
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
500g minced beef
4 sticks celery, sliced
2 level tbsp. plain flour
400g can chopped tomatoes
1 stock cube, beef
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the topping:

30g butter
30g plain flour
300ml milk
1 tsp dry mustard powder
60g grated mature cheddar cheese

(You can exchange beef to lamb depending on preference but remember you will need to use lamb stock)

Method:

Set oven onto 200°C or gas mark 6

Cook pasta in boiling water for ten – fourteen minutes or until tender then drain well.

Meanwhile heat oil in a pan, add onions and cook on medium heat for four to five minutes until the onion have softened, add the celery and mince to pan and cook for further five-eight minutes stirring well until the mince is completely brown.

Add flour to your pan and cook for a minute, continuing to stir until the mixture thickens, add your tomatoes and 150ml boiling water. Stir until the mixture comes to boil.

Add and stir the stock cube, whilst also adding Worcestershire sauce and seasoning to personal taste. Simmer for 2-3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in your drained pasta. Add the mixture into a gratin dish and level service.

How to make the topping

Melt butter into a pan and add flour, cook the mixture for 1-2 minutes until the mixture becomes a thick paste and then progressively pour in milk beating well and allowing mixture to come to boil before adding more milk.

Remove pan from heat and add mustard powder and other half of cheese, season to your taste, and spoon sauce over pasta completely covering and sprinkling the last of the cheese over.

Bake in the centre of oven for 30-40 minutes or until the mixture becomes golden on top and sizzling hot.

The dish should then be ready to serve.