Description
Bechamel Pasta Bake, also known as Macarona Bechamel, is a comforting Middle Eastern dish made with layers of penne pasta, spiced ground beef, and a rich, creamy béchamel sauce. Baked until golden and bubbly, it’s perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
- For the pasta:
- 600g penne pasta
- Water
- Salt
- For the meat sauce:
- 700g lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1.5 teaspoons allspice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- For the béchamel sauce:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup butter
- 1 liter milk (warm or room temperature)
- 1 chicken stock cube dissolved in 1 cup hot water (or use 1 cup chicken stock)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Boil penne pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a pan, heat vegetable oil and sauté diced onion for about 5 minutes until softened.
- Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned, about 5–7 minutes.
- Stir in tomato sauce, allspice, cinnamon, and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside.
- For the béchamel sauce, melt butter in a pot over medium heat. Gradually whisk in flour to form a roux. Cook for 3–4 minutes while whisking.
- Slowly pour in warm milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Add chicken stock and continue whisking for 4–5 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Mix about 1 cup of béchamel sauce into the cooked pasta.
- In a greased deep casserole dish, spread 1 tablespoon of béchamel sauce on the bottom.
- Layer half of the pasta, followed by all the meat mixture, then the remaining pasta.
- Pour all remaining béchamel sauce over the top and smooth it out evenly.
- Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and broil for 10–15 minutes until golden.
- Let cool for 15–20 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Warming the milk makes it easier to incorporate into the roux, but cold milk can be used if whisked well.
- If the béchamel sauce thickens too quickly, reduce heat to prevent burning.
- Letting the pasta bake rest after cooking helps it set and makes cutting easier.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
