Macarrones con Carne (Macaroni & Meat Casserole)

The best way I can describe this dish is a layered macaroni and picadillo casserole topped with cheese. You really can't go wrong with it!

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Macarrones con Carne

Time: approximately 1 hour

Makes about 6 servings

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. cooking oil
1 lb. ground beef
2 garlic cloves
½ onion
½ large green pepper
2 cans tomato sauce
2 tbsp. cooking wine (vino seco)
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
¼ tsp. oregano
1 bay leaf
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½ lb. macaroni
4 cups boiling water
1 tbsp. salt
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½ lb. Patagrás cheese (Gouda)
⅛ lb. Parmesan cheese

Prep:

• Finely chop the onions and green pepper
• Mince the garlic
• Shred both cheeses and combine
• Preheat oven at 350°F

 

Directions:

• Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat and cook the chopped onions, green peppers, and minced garlic until soft
• Add the ground beef and cook until brown, breaking it into small chunks like picadillo.
• Add the vino seco, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, oregano and bay leaf. Cover and cook for about 15 minutes.
• While the meat cooks, prepare the macaroni by cooking in boiling water and salt.
• Remove the bay leaf from the meat.
• In a greased casserole dish, layer the bottom with half the macaroni, then layer half the beef, then half the shredded cheese. Repeat the process with the other half of the ingredients.
• Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
• Serve warm.

Notes & Comments:

• This would be a great way to make use of left over picadillo. The meat in this dish is basically the same recipe.
• The meat could have some more flavor. I would maybe add more spices like cumin and parsley.

 

 

 

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Receta Original:

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MACARRONES CON CARNE

2 cdas. de aceite

1 lb. de carne de res molida

2 dientes de ajo

½ cebolla

½ ají grande

2 latas salsa de tomate

2 cdas. vino seco

1 cdta. de sal

¼ cdta. de pimienta

¼ cdta. de orégano

1 hojita de laurel

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½ lb. de macarrones

4 tazas de agua hirviendo

1 cda. de sal

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½ lb. queso Patagrás

⅛ lb. de queso parmesano

        Caliente el aceite y sofría en el los dientes de ajo machacados, cebolla picadita y ají. Añada la carne y cuando esté ligeramente cocinada agregue el vino seco, salsa de tomate, sal, pimienta, orégano y laurel. Déjelo a juego lento bien tapado durante 15 minutos.

        Cocine los macarrones en el agua hirviendo con sal. Quite la hoja de laurel a la carne. En un molde engrasado con mantequilla, ponga una capa de macarrones, otra de carne y otra de queso rallado. Cúbralo con otra capa de macarrones y repita la capa de carne y queso. Hornéelo a 350F durante 25 minutos aproximadamente. De 6 raciones.