Description
A hearty and flavorful Greek-inspired lamb and macaroni bake featuring lean lamb mince simmered with aromatic spices and tomatoes, combined with creamy ricotta and Parmesan cheese, then baked to golden perfection. Perfect for a comforting family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 500g lean lamb mince
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 beef or lamb stock cube, crumbled
- 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
Pasta and Cheese Mixture
- 400g macaroni
- 250g tub ricotta
- 50g Parmesan, grated (divided)
- 50ml milk
Optional
- Garlic bread, to serve
Instructions
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 10 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the crushed garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.
- Brown the Lamb Mince: Add the lean lamb mince to the pan. Increase the heat and cook until browned, breaking up the mince with a wooden spoon to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Add Spices and Tomatoes: Stir in the ground cinnamon and crumbled stock cube. Pour in the canned chopped tomatoes and add the dried oregano. Mix everything well.
- Simmer the Sauce: Cover the pan and simmer the sauce for 15 minutes. Then remove the lid and simmer uncovered for another 15 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and the tomatoes to cook down.
- Cook the Macaroni: While the sauce simmers, cook the macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a bowl, combine the ricotta, most of the grated Parmesan (reserving some for topping), and the milk. Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir this mixture into the cooked macaroni.
- Assemble the Bake: Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/Gas mark 6. Spread the lamb mince sauce evenly into a large baking dish. Top with the macaroni and cheese mixture, then scatter the remaining Parmesan over the top.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbling.
- Serve: Serve hot, optionally accompanied by garlic bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- Using lean lamb mince keeps the dish healthier while still providing rich flavor.
- Simmering the sauce uncovered in the latter stage thickens it nicely for a perfect bake.
- You can substitute macaroni with other short pasta shapes like penne or rigatoni if preferred.
- For a stronger flavor, add a pinch of chili flakes to the sauce when cooking the garlic.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated; they also freeze well for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Keywords: Greek lamb bake, macaroni bake, lamb mince recipes, casserole, baked pasta, family dinner
