Today we bring you a lunch or dinner that is commonly prepared in millions of homes, especially if there are children in the family. Macaroni and beef is a sure bet if we want to eat pasta, and it's one of the most enjoyable pasta recipes.
To avoid falling back on the classic Bolognese sauce, we'll show you how to prepare the meat so that it's infinitely juicier with the help of pancetta. Furthermore, spicing is vital in this type of dish, so don't hesitate to play with your favorite spices to give it your own touch. You can use thyme instead of bay leaf, or even add basil.
While it takes a little longer, cooking the meat over low heat will give us the best possible result, so much so that you'll use this technique to prepare many other dishes.
Regarding the type of minced meat, you can use whatever you like best: a mixture of beef and pork, just beef, or just pork... these combinations are classic and won't change the flavor. Another option is to use turkey or chicken, and even vegetarian options if we use textured soy. It's an incredibly versatile recipe, so we have room to adapt it to our preferences.
Of course, we can use this meat to make delicious macaroni, but it will work for any type of pasta we want to make, be it tagliatelle, farfalle, rigatoni, or spaghetti. What's more, we can also use it to make cannelloni or lasagna.
Ingredients
Macaroni
1 can of tomato sauce
500g minced meat
1/2 spring onion
1-2 garlic cloves
Oregano
Ground pepper
Oil
Preparing the Sofrito Base with Vegetables and Meat
To prepare this delicious macaroni with minced meat, start by sautéing the pancetta or bacon, including the minced meat. Use a wide saucepan and add a drizzle of olive oil.
Season with salt and pepper. When the meat is perfectly cooked, remove it from the pan and set aside.
Now it's time for the vegetables. Wash them and cut them into cubes. Sauté for approximately 25 minutes. Add salt. After the cooking time is over, pour in the wine. Increase the heat and cook for a couple of minutes.
Next, add the tomato sauce and mix. You can use any homemade tomato sauce from a can, but making your own is even better.
Next, add the minced meat and bacon. Mix. Cook for another 20 minutes over low heat. Adjust the salt and pepper, then set aside to cook the macaroni.
Pasta Preparation and Final Presentation
Place a pot with plenty of water on the stove and add salt. We recommend following the manufacturer's instructions, as each type of pasta requires a specific cooking time. When the pasta is cooked, drain it and add it to the casserole dish containing the meat and tomato.
Mix everything together so that the tomato coats the macaroni and serve.
Finally, you can add a little grated cheese to give it that delicious touch that so many of us love.
To accompany this macaroni, since it is such a hearty dish, we recommend making a light salad, either panzanella or caprese. This will refresh your lunch a bit.
Tip
When draining the macaroni, if you notice that the pot handles have become hot, cover them with a cloth to avoid burning yourself.
