Baked Macaroni
- Soomaali
- Makarooni Alfoorno
- Français
- Gratin de Macaronis
- العربية
- not translated yet
By Leila & Abdullahi · ·
This delicious dish might seem complicated at first glance, but it is really very easy when you break it down to its individual components. These are: the pasta, a meat sauce, and a béchamel sauce. The béchamel sauce is extremely easy if you follow the method we show in the video. There is no need to fight with lumps in your sauce.
It is an elegant dish and it is comfort food that would cheer you up. What we like most about this dish, is that you can make it ahead, refrigerate it, and bake it the next day. It is great when you invite guests and you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. It is also convenient, after a hard day’s work, to throw it in the oven as the family prepares for dinner.
When it comes to baked macaroni, there are two things that are important for us. We like a meaty sauce and we also like the dish to have a very generous amount of béchamel sauce. Those two things are what make the baked macaroni luxurious, indulgent, and soothing.
Watch
Ingredients
1 cup = 237 mL · 1 Tbsp = 15 mL · 1 tsp = 5 mL. All are level measurements.
Meat Sauce
Bechamel Sauce
Method
Tap a step to mark it done.
Meat sauce
In a pan set on medium heat, saute the diced onions in the olive oil & add the salt. Cook for 3 minutes.
Add the minced garlic and cook for 2 more minutes.
Add the ground beef and brown the meat (about 10 min.).
Add the chopped tomatoes.
Add the tomato paste and cook for 10 minutes.
Add the fresh basil just before turning off the heat.
Béchamel sauce
In a 4L pot set on medium heat, add the butter & olive oil.
When the butter melts, add the flour.
Stir vigorously. Cook for 5 minutes until the mixture foams and has a nutty smell.
Add 1 litre of milk and whisk vigorously.
Add the salt and stir constantly.
When the sauce starts to thicken, add ¼ litre milk. Add the remaining milk when it starts to thicken again.
Add the sugar.
Add the nutmeg.
Add the shredded cheese, if using.
Cooking the pasta
Bring 5 litres of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon of salt.
Add the penne and cook for 8 minutes.
The penne should be a little underdone as it will finish cooking in the oven.
Assembling the dish
Spread ⅓ of the meat sauce at the bottom of a 13″ x 9″ x 3″ baking dish.
Add some of the béchamel sauce to the cooked penne.
Make a layer of 1/2 the pasta.
Add a layer of the remaining meat sauce.
Sprinkle half of the grated cheese and some shredded cheese, if using.
Add a layer of the remaining pasta.
Pour the béchamel sauce on top.
Sprinkle the remainder of the grated cheese.
Bake at 380°F/193°C for 45 minutes.
Comments
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All your recipes are delicious to look at. I tried pita bread, macroni and shawarma all turned out good.. I’m new in Toronto and which brand parmesan cheese you used I’m unable to find any halal parmesan. Jazakallah khair.
This is outstanding Ma sha Allah!
What can be used as an alternative for butter in this recipe?
Asc walal ajir iyo xasand an laso kobi karin ebo ha idin siyo waxan rabay in an.ogado butter ma kan unsalt eh mase kan salt jzk
Mahadsanid walaasheenna qaaliga ah. Labadaba waa isticmaali kartaa.
asalamu caleykum waraxma tulahi wabarakaatu walaashey leyla iyo sowjkeeda aad ayaad u mahadsabtiin waana idinka faa,ideystay awal hore uma aqoon webka lkn universal ayaan ka arkay
Wacalaykum Assalaam Waraxmatullaahi Wabarakaatuh.
Ku soo dhowoow goobta Xawaash. Aad iyo aad ayaan ugu faraxnay inaad ka faa’iidaysanaysid. Mahadsanid walaal.
Walaalyaal wan idin salaamay saalaan kadib aad I yo aad ayaad umahad santihiin .indhaha ayaad noofurteen .guuleesta waligiin Kuwii jiro Allah ha idin ka dhigo . سلمت الأيادي
Mahadsanid walaasheenna qaaliga ah. Waan ku faraxnay faallada qaayaha leh aad inoo soo qortay.