Greek-Style Beef Macaroni Casserole: A Taste of Grandma’s Kitchen!

Experience a culinary journey with this Greek-inspired beef macaroni casserole, a recipe straight from my grandma’s kitchen! Prepare to redefine your notions of classic macaroni and cheese with this flavorful twist.

Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients for 12 servings of Macaroni Casserole:

For the Casserole:

• 1.45-kilogram (3.2 lbs) pack of elbow macaroni
• 450 grams (1 lb) ground beef
• 1 large chopped onion
• 1 minced garlic clove
• 220 grams (1 cup) tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 lightly beaten egg
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

For the Sauce:

• 200 grams (7/8 cup) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 cups milk
• 2 lightly beaten eggs
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions for Making Macaroni Casserole:

1. Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions. Drain the water.
   In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until the meat whitens. Drain excess fat.
2. Add tomato sauce, water, and spices to the meat. Cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. In a large bowl, mix the cooked macaroni, beaten egg, and Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
4. For the sauce, melt butter in a large saucepan, add flour and cinnamon, stirring until smooth.
5. Gradually add milk, bring to a boil over medium heat, and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes until the mixture thickens.
6. Remove from heat. Add a little of the hot mixture to the beaten eggs, then pour back into the saucepan, stirring constantly.
7. Stir in Parmesan cheese.
8. In a greased 3-liter baking dish, layer half of the macaroni mixture. Top with the beef mixture and the remaining macaroni mixture. Pour the sauce over.
9. Bake, uncovered, at 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit) for 45-50 minutes.
10. Let it stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy your hearty meal!