• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Flour & Spice logo

  • Complete Recipe Index
  • Pakistani Recipes
  • Meet Sarah
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Complete Recipe Index
  • Pakistani Recipes
  • Meet Sarah
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Burgers, Pasta, and Pizza » Reduced Fat Spinach and Corn Mac and Cheese

    Reduced Fat Spinach and Corn Mac and Cheese

    Jul 2, 2014 · Modified: Mar 10, 2022 · by Sarah Mir

    Okay people I know it's summer and you're thinking "Mac and Cheese? Really???", but trust me on this one. Or rather, trust Vaish at Chefette Spicy on this one.

    When I saw this post of hers I knew I had to make it. I frantically added the ingredients to my grocery list and went out that night (at 9) to do groceries so I could make this pasta happen asap. Also my fridge was weirdly empty and that was just freaking me out. Just fyi, I am now at the other extreme and equally freaked out.

    IMG_5634

    Corn, spinach, and cheese. What's not to love? I usually find that 'lightened' up versions of dishes just don't work for me, but Vaish clearly knows what she is doing because this recipe is DELICIOUS. Like really, really freakin' good. And you know the desi in me couldn't help, but add a few green chilies - and then the desi of me remembered she had a jar of Sambal Oelek in her fridge...I am not a fan of hot sauce on everything, but on this it really works. 

    Reduced Fat Spinach and Corn Mac and Cheese
    Serves 6

    One pound macaroni elbows or any small size pasta
    ½ cup all purpose flour
    2 cups 2% milk
    Half cup water with a bouillon cube dissolved into it - I used chicken, feel free to use veggie or water
    Eight Oz Container of low-fat cream cheese
    Four to Five cups fresh spinach, washed and chopped
    One cup cooked sweet corn kernels
    Half tsp nutmeg
    Four oz reduced fat Colby Jack cheese shredded
    Four pods garlic, finely chopped
    2 green chilies - finely diced (optional)
    One Tbsp butter
    Two Tbsp olive oil
    Salt and pepper to taste

    Optional add in: 1.5-2 cups cooked chicken in bite sized pieces

    IMG_5591

    Cook the pasta according to package instructions, drain the water and keep aside.

    Preheat oven to 375°F. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add spinach and let it wilt. Add the sweet corn.

    IMG_5595

    Then comes the cream cheese. When the cheese has melted then season and taste. Set aside.

    Now, heat the olive oil on medium then saute the garlic a little until it gives off that wonderful savory smell. Sprinkle flour and saute for a few minutes. Turn the heat down and slowly add the milk to this mix whisking briskly to avoid lumps.  Add the green chilies, pepper and nutmeg, turn the heat up a little. When the sauce becomes nice and thick then pour in the 'stock' and cook for another five minutes. When you can dip a spoon in the sauce, run a finger along the back, and have the streak hold its shape then you're done.

    IMG_5601

    Add the cheese, mix well. Then add the spinach mix. Check for seasoning, add salt if needed.

    Mix in the pasta then bake for 30 minutes, until it is bubbling and gooey.

    IMG_5625
    Dig In.

    Reduced Fat Spinach and Corn Mac and Cheese

    IMG_5746

    Oh and I kept half of the 'sauce' in the fridge for a few days and made another batch - with chicken and sambal oelek. Even before the magic of a good quality hot sauce it had already become yummier. Wonders never cease.
    IMG_5809
    « Vanilla Frozen Yogurt
    Baked Samosas and Eid Party Details! »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Asiya @ Chocolate & Chillies says

      July 02, 2014 at 8:57 pm

      OMG...I love mac & cheese!!!! Not a good idea to be reading this right now.....The last 5 minutes of rosa is seeming really long....

      Reply
      • sarahjmir says

        July 03, 2014 at 7:18 am

        Oh no.. they are so long anyway..it's pretty brutal .. or rather would be for me if this nursing mama was fasting but I am not this year

        Reply
    2. Faaiza.O says

      July 02, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      Sarah! You know, here on the other end of the world down under we're fasting right? This looks sooo good!!

      Reply
    3. Traditionally Modern Food says

      July 02, 2014 at 11:27 pm

      Sarah, yet another delicious recipe from you

      Reply
      • sarahjmir says

        July 03, 2014 at 7:39 am

        Thank you 🙂 You can swap the chicken stock cube for veggie for a vegetarian version too!

        Reply
        • Traditionally Modern Food says

          July 03, 2014 at 3:04 pm

          Ya Sarah I was thinking for a vegetarian alternative as we doing eat non vegetarian:) thanks for the suggestion

          Reply
    4. Sadia Mohamed says

      July 03, 2014 at 4:57 am

      Sarah! I just cant control myself when looking at this mac n cheese right now when i am fasting. Looks soo delicious. Yummm!

      Reply
      • sarahjmir says

        July 03, 2014 at 7:38 am

        Thank you much much! I should remember to post after Rozas open or very early in the day!

        Reply
    5. salmadinani says

      July 03, 2014 at 7:10 pm

      I'm always experimenting with different mac n'cheese. I like the idea of adding spinach!

      Reply
    6. vaish says

      July 19, 2014 at 3:37 am

      Omg! Thank you for the backlink, Sarah! I have been off the blog radar for sometime now.
      Your mac 'n cheese looks awesome. Sambal Oelek, wow. That's genius!

      Reply

    Penny for your thoughts? Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Sarah! Welcome to Flour & Spice, the foodie world of a Pakistani origin Canadian mama of two whose busy life and love for food means practicality reigns supreme! I love baking (duh!), my readers (extra duh!), reading, coffee, singing loudly slightly off key, and aprons.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Caramel Custard - Pakistani
    • Herbed Chicken Burgers with a DELISH sauce
    • Hyderabadi Chicken Pulao - Pakistani Recipe
    • EASY Pakistani Aloo Gosht or Meat and Potato Curry
    • Coffee Cake a la Bombay Bakery
    • "Phitti Hui Coffee" or Whipped Coffee - a Pakistani Latte

    Copyright © 2022 Flour & Spice · Support by Foodie Digital