Noodles with Minced Meat

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   Get the ingredients ready as listed. You can use store-bought ground meat or grind your own from fresh meat. To taste and preference, you can use mixed ground meat (equal parts pork and beef) or ground poultry. The second is lower in calories, but with ground red meat the dish comes out juicier, richer, and tastier.

2. Step 2:

   

   Peel the onion and chop it finely with a knife.

3. Step 3:

   

   Add the chopped onion and seasonings — salt and ground black pepper to taste — to the bowl of ground meat. Mix until evenly combined.

4. Step 4:

   

   Meanwhile, cook the vermicelli. Pour clean water into a pot and add a pinch of salt. Turn on the heat. When the water boils, drop in the vermicelli. Stir right away so it doesn't stick to the bottom. When the water comes back to a boil, lower the heat to medium and cook the vermicelli until half done, about 7 minutes, depending on the cooking time on the package. Drain the water and tip the vermicelli into a colander.

5. Step 5:

   

   Pour vegetable oil into a skillet. Turn on the heat and warm the oil. Add the ground meat and onion. Fry over medium heat, stirring constantly with a spatula so the meat doesn't cook in big clumps, until the meat is lightly browned and the onion is translucent.

6. Step 6:

   

   Add the tomato paste and water to the skillet with the meat, stir, and simmer the meat in the tomato sauce for about another 15 minutes. Instead of tomato paste, you can use fresh tomatoes pureed in a blender.

7. Step 7:

   

   Add the cooked vermicelli to the skillet with the meat. Stir and keep them on the heat together for about another 10 minutes, covered. The key is not to overcook it, so the vermicelli doesn't turn to mush. Turn off the heat.

8. Step 8:

   

   Divide the noodles with meat among plates, sprinkling chopped fresh herbs on top. Serve with fresh vegetables, salad, and bread if you like. Enjoy!