Mince And Pasta Casserole Food

BEEF AND PASTA BAKE - THE BEST!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 (350F).
• Heat oil in large pan; cook onion, garlic, bacon and carrot, stirring, til carrot is just tender - about 8 minutes *.
• Add mince and cook, stirring, til mince changes colour; then add undiluted soup, tomato paste, sauce and oregano and simmer, covered, about 15 mins or til mixture has thickened slightly.
• While beef mixture is simmering, cook pasta and drain. Stir pasta into beef mixture, then spoon into an oiled deep 8 cup capacity ovenproof dish and sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 15 mins or until browned slightly.
• *If you want to, you can add a stick of chopped celery along with the onion etc or add some mushrooms just before the mince.

MINCE AND PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to the instructions, drain and rinse with cold water. Leave draining for now.
• Brown the mince and drain of any excess fat once brown. (3-5 mins microwave on high)
• If adding onion and/ or mushrooms fry them in a little olive oil on the hob until the onions are browning and the mushrooms starting to shrink.
• Break up the mince until it is in very small pieces with no lumps. Season to taste with the listed seasonings and then add the rest of the ingredients (including fried onions and mushrooms if adding) except the pasta (and raisins if adding).
• Cook the mince (12 mins in microwave on high) stirring occasionally (about every 4 mins if microwaving).
• If using stir in the raisins.
• Add the cooked and drained pasta and mix well. This is a good place to stop if pre-preparing or freezing. When wanting to serve heat (unfrozen) gently until hot all the way through (approx 5 mins microwave on medium).
• Serve with grated Parmesan, peas or salad and if feeling indulgent garlic bread.

GREEK LAMB & MACARONI BAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and cook for 10 mins until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 min more, then tip in the lamb mince, turn up the heat and brown, breaking up the mince with a wooden spoon.
• Once the lamb is browned, add the cinnamon, crumbled stock cube, tomatoes and oregano. Stir well and simmer for 15 mins, covered, then for 15 mins, uncovered, until the sauce has thickened and the tomatoes have cooked down.
• Meanwhile, cook the macaroni following pack instructions. Drain well. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Mix together the ricotta, most of the parmesan and the milk with plenty of seasoning, and stir into the macaroni. Tip the mince into a large baking dish, top with the macaroni mixture, and scatter over the remaining parmesan. Bake for 30 mins until golden and bubbling. Serve hot with garlic bread, if you like.

STUFFED PASTA BAKE BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• To make the bolognese, heat the oil in a wide ovenproof pan over a medium heat. Fry the onion, celery and carrot with some seasoning for 20 mins until soft and lightly golden. Tip in the beef mince, turn up the heat and fry, stirring regularly, for another 10 mins until the mince browns. Add the garlic, fry for a minute, then pour in the wine and bubble for a few mins more, scraping the pan to release any bits. Stir through the purée, bay leaves and tomatoes, with a canful of water. Simmer for 1½ hrs, covered for the first hour, then remove the lid and bubble until the tomatoes have broken down. Season with salt, pepper, the sugar and balsamic vinegar.
• Tip the pasta shells into a large heatproof bowl with a pinch of salt, and pour over a kettle of boiled water. Cover and leave to soften for 15-20 mins - they need to retain some firmness so you can fill them.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 4 and drain the pasta. Use a fork to mash the mascarpone with the mozzarella, chopped basil, garlic and some black pepper in a bowl.
• The bolognese should be a little wetter than you'd like as the pasta shells will absorb some of the liquid as it bakes. Remove from the heat, giving it a final stir. Using a teaspoon, fill the pasta shells with some of the mascarpone mixture, pressing the mix in with your index finger. Nestle the shells into the sauce, filled-side up. Bake for 20-30 mins until the top is golden and bubbling, and the pasta is tender. Grate over some parmesan and finish with a few basil leaves.

SPAGHETTI AND MINCE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook spaghetti in large pot boiling salted water for 10 minutes and drain.
• Brown beef and onion together in medium pot and cook for 5 minutes, pour off surplus fat.
• Add tomato puree, cinnamon, bay leaf and salt and pepper, bring to boil and simmer covered for 15 minutes.
• Discard bay leaf.
• Spread half the spaghetti over base of an ovenproof dish, top with half beef mixture, repeat layer of spaghetti and beef mixture.
• Pour sauce over top, sprinkle with parmesan.
• Bake uncovered in moderate oven for 30 minutes.
• Sauce- Melt butter in a pan, stir in flour, add milk, stir until sauce boils and thickens.

TURKEY BOLOGNESE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pan. Add the onions and cook for 8-10 mins until softened. Add the mince and brown all over. Once browned, add the garlic, tomatoes, chipotle paste and chicken stock, and bring to the boil. Turn down to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 35-40 mins, adding a splash of water if it looks too dry.
• While the turkey cooks, boil the pasta following pack instructions, then drain, reserving some of the water. Warm through the mascarpone with a splash of the hot pasta water over a low heat. Add 140g cheddar, season and stir to combine.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Transfer the turkey sauce to a large baking dish. Stir the cheese sauce through the pasta and pour over the mince. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and the parmesan on top. Bake in the oven for 20 mins or until golden and crisping at the edges.