Baked Macaroni with Minced Meat (Macaroni Pastitsio/ Tou Fourno)

This Greek model lasagna is a well-loved and common dish with Greeks, worldwide. My children adore it.

Right here is my Auntie Loulla of Kosmos Restaurant‘s recipe under.

(Serves 8)

For the filling

• 700g (1 ½ lb.) minced lamb, beef, pork or hen
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
• 1x 450g canned, chopped tomatoes
• 1 glass pink dry wine
• 1 tbsp. tomato puree
• ½ tsp. floor cinnamon
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 2-3 tbsp. chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp. chopped mint
• Salt and freshly floor black pepper
• For the pasta
• 500g (1lb) Misco Greek thick macaroni
• 50g (2oz) butter, softened
• 50g (2oz) grated Kefalodyri, halloumi or parmesan cheese
• ½ tsp. floor cinnamon
• 1 tbsp. chopped mint
• 2 eggs, evenly crushed
• Salt and pepper
• Béchamel
• 75g (3oz) butter
• 100g (4oz) plain flour
• 850ml (1 ½pints) full fats milk
• 40g (1 ½ oz.) grated cheese plus additional for topping
• 2 eggs, evenly crushed
• Salt and white pepper
• A pinch of grated nutmeg

35 x 24cm (14 x 9 ½ inch) sq. oven proof dish

Technique

Put together the filling first. Warmth the olive oil in a big frying pan or a wok (which I want) and sauté the onions for couple of minutes. Add the garlic and mincemeat and stir-fry till the mince is brown. Pour within the wine and permit to boil then combine the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, cinnamon, sugar and season with salt and pepper. Combine within the herbs and simmer for half-hour. Style and modify seasoning.

Place the macaroni in a big saucepan of boiling salted water, cook dinner till simply tender, then drain and return to the saucepan. Season and blend within the butter. Permit to chill somewhat then combine within the cheese, cinnamon, herbs and the eggs.

Make the béchamel sauce in a medium, spherical heavy-saucepan over a low warmth. Soften the butter and add the flour, cooking for about 2 minutes or till flour is golden brown. Take away from the warmth and steadily stir within the milk, stirring on a regular basis utilizing a whisk till you may have a easy paste. Return to the warmth stirring continually till the sauce has thickened. Combine within the crushed eggs and cheese and season to style.   

Preheat the oven to 190°C/375 f fuel mark 5.

To assemble the macaroni, butter the oven dish and put half the cooked macaroni evenly in to the bottom of the dish and high with the mincemeat filling earlier than protecting with the remaining macaroni. Pour the béchamel sauce on high and unfold to fully cowl, sprinkle with cheese, and nutmeg. Bake for 40-45 minutes or till golden brown and depart to chill for at the least 10 minutes, earlier than serving. Reduce into massive sq. parts, and serve accompanied with a salad.

Do additionally be part of Loulla’s personal Fb Group which has hundreds of members: Loulla’s Recipe Share.