Mood for macaroni

MACARONI MINCE BAKE

Mac and cheese smothered in red pasta sauce with lamb mince that is everyone’s favourite. 

Ingredients

• 750g uncooked macaroni

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

• 2 chicken stock cubes

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 800g lamb mince

• 4 tablespoons tomato paste

• Salt to taste

• Ground black pepper to taste

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

• 3/4 cup plain flour

• 3 cups milk

• 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

• 3 cups grated mozzarella cheese

Preparation

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Grease a 20x30cm baking dish. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni, 1 tablespoon oil and stock cubes and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large frypan. Sauté onion until golden and add lamb mince. Cook over medium heat until evenly brown. Stir in tomato paste, salt and pepper; simmer over low heat until heated through. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a deep saucepan; stir in flour then milk. Cook over medium-low heat until sauce thickens; stir in salt and white pepper. Pour half of the sauce over the cooked macaroni and stir in mozzarella cheese.

Spoon half of the macaroni into the prepared dish and top with lamb mince mixture. Spoon the remaining macaroni over the lamb mince and top with remaining white sauce. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

ONE POT SPINACH MACARONI

One pot spinach macaroni is a cheesy, delicious macaroni with a goodness of spinach. Perfect for the busy days when you have no time, this quick yet wholesome preparation comes to your rescue.

Ingredients

2 cups macaroni

3 tablespoon butter

1/2 teaspoon oil

1-1/2 cup spinach, tightly packed

1/2 cup milk

Salt to taste

1 tablespoon pepper powder

3/4 cup parmesan cheese

Preparation

To begin with one pot spinach macaroni, cook macaroni as per the packet instructions in a saucepan. Once cooked, drain the water from the macaroni and add 1/2 teaspoon oil. Into the same pot add butter and mix well. Now add finely chopped spinach and sauté it along with macaroni until spinach gets cooked. Add milk, salt and pepper powder and mix again. Finally, add cheese stir and turn off the flame.

BELL PEPPER AND CHEESE MACARONI

This is a quick macaroni meal with the goodness of bell peppers. The cheese adds delight and is a blockbuster with the family.

Ingredients

1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, sliced

1 red bell pepper, cut into strips

1 green bell pepper, cut into strips

3/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

Black pepper powder to taste

3 green chillies, slit

Salt to taste

2 cups boiled macaroni

1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, grated

Preparation

Heat oil in a pan, add onions and sauté it for 1-2 minutes until half done. Add bell peppers and sauté till cooked. This may take 3 minutes. (Adjust level of cooking veggies according to preference.) Now add dried oregano, dried basil, black pepper powder, green chillies, and salt. Stir well till the seasonings coat the peppers well.

Combine the boiled macaroni with the seasoned peppers, mix well and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Transfer it to a microwave safe bowl. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on it. Microwave it for 2-3 minutes on high power till cheese melts. Serve with garlic bread.

MACARONI CHICKEN SOUP

A creamy soup made with elbow macaroni, milk and butter. This is perfect anytime you feel like having a hearty and comforting bowl of soup.

Ingredients

8 to 10 cups of water

2 tablespoons butter

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

1/2 cup sliced carrot

2 cups elbow macaroni boiled

800g chicken breast, in bite sizes

1 chicken cube

1/2 cup evaporated milk

Salt and pepper seasonings

Preparation

Boil water in a pot, add chicken until cooked and set aside. In medium heat, add the butter, onion, garlic and carrots. Add the boiled elbow macaroni, raise the heat to high, stirring often until macaroni is cooked until al dente. Put in the chicken and chicken cube to boil and simmer. Stir in evaporated milk to boil and simmer. Season with salt and pepper.

Source :Times Of Oman