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Pasta casserole with minced meat in the oven

Baked Pasta and Ground Meat Casserole

Several beloved foods come together in one dish. Durum-wheat pasta with ground meat is a hearty favorite. Here I suggest combining these tasty, affordable ingredients in a casserole under a cheese crust.

UnicornSteak

Recipe author

Pasta casserole with minced meat in the oven

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Composition / ingredients

Servings:

Beef

500

Pasta

400

Eggs

Milk

150

Hard cheese

Salt

Onion

Herb blend

Water (for boiling the pasta)

Translation table of volumetric measures

Nutrients and energy value of the composition of the recipe

By weight of the composition:

Proteins 33 % 8 g

Fats 13 % 3 g

Carbohydrates 54 % 13 g

116 kcal

GI: 8 / 92 / 0

Cooking method

Step 1:

I'm always in favor of homemade ground meat, so I suggest grinding a good piece of beef through a meat grinder using the fine plate. For the smoothest texture, I run it through twice.
Step 2:

Since the meat and pasta need to be ready at the same time, put a pot of water on the stove. Once it boils, add salt to taste.
Step 3:

Add the pasta to the pot and stir gently so it doesn't stick to the bottom. Once the water returns to a boil, cook the pasta for half the time given on the package — that is, until just underdone. My durum-wheat pasta cooked for about four minutes after the water came back to a boil.
Step 4:

Peel the onion and chop it finely. Heat a shallow skillet, pour in some sunflower oil, and sauté the onion, stirring, until soft.
Step 5:

Add the ground meat to the skillet with the onion and cook everything together for ten minutes.
Step 6:

Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse it under cold water. This stops the pasta from cooking further; otherwise it can overcook when baked.
Step 7:

Season the meat with salt and dried herbs. I'm using herbes de Provence: oregano, basil, and rosemary. Stir and take it off the heat.
Step 8:

Pour the milk into a bowl and beat in one washed egg. Salt it. Whisk or fork it together until smooth.
Step 9:

Grate the sharp cheese on a fine grater. Stir two-thirds of it into the milk mixture and set the rest aside for now.
Step 10:

In a greased baking dish, spread half the meat as the first layer and pour over half the milk mixture.
Step 11:

Then carefully arrange half the pasta on top in a single, snug layer.
Step 12:

The next layer is the rest of the meat plus the rest of the milk mixture. The top layer is the second half of the pasta.
Step 13:

Sprinkle the reserved grated cheese over the top. Bake in an oven preheated to 350°F (180°C) for half an hour. A golden cheese crust should form on top.

The casserole comes out tender and delicious — great for adults and kids alike. A fresh vegetable salad and a tomato-based sauce make nice accompaniments. Enjoy!