An American classic, this pasta dish is unthinkable without those gooey strings of cheese. Traditionally, mac and cheese consists of short-cut macaroni and a Bechamel sauce to which grated cheese is added. Pop star Rihanna’s recipe, however, is a little more extravagant — she likes to add ketchup, sweet chilli sauce and mustard.
Rihanna
It’s certainly not boring. “The chilli sauce adds a touch of heat, and the ketchup adds acidity,” says Cookbook author Domenico Gentile.
However, the chefs absolutely cannot get on board with one of Rihanna’s ingredients: “The mustard makes no sense, especially with the cheddar cheese,” says Gentile.
Alcohol meets cream: Gigi Hadid’s spicy vodka pasta
Even though vodka pasta is often mentioned online in the same breath as Gigi Hadid, the famous model didn’t invent the dish.
Gigi Hadid
Also known as ‘Penne alla Vodka’, it’s been part of Italian-American cuisine since the 1970s. It is a pasta sauce made from crushed tomatoes, cream and chilli flakes — and a dash of vodka. Before serving, a generous knob of butter is melted in the sauce, followed by a generous amount of parmesan.
While the name draws them in, the chefs are skeptical as to whether or not it’s the alcohol that makes the dish so delicious.
“After all, vodka has a pretty neutral taste — and you can hardly taste the alcohol when cooked,” says Albermann. “It’s more the other ingredients that make the dish so good.” The fat from the cream and butter further enhances the flavours of the sauce, as does the parmesan.
—dpa
