Italian Pasta Recipes - Baked Macaroni with Meat (Maccheroni con Carne al Forno) Recipe

Ingredients                     

• 450g/1lb minced (ground) beef

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1 garlic clove, crushed

• 15 ml/1 tbsp plain (all-purpose) flour

• 300 ml/1 1/4 cups beef stock

• 1 red (bell) pepper, finely chopped

• 10 ml/2 tsp chopped fresh sage

• 1 bay leaf

• 175g/6 oz macaroni

• 50g/2 oz/1/2 cup hard cheese, grated

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Method:

1. Place the minced beef, onion and crushed garlic in a frying pan (skillet) or saucepan and cook, stirring, until browned.

2. Blend in the flour. Gradually stir in the beef stock and add the red pepper, sage and bay leaf.

3. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Cook the pasta in boiling, salted water for 12 minutes. Drain.

4. Remove the bay leaf from the meat and stir in the macaroni. Transfer to a large oven­proof dish. Sprinkle over the grated cheese.

5. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6 for 20 minutes and serve hot.