Greek Meat Pasta (Makaronia me kima)

Cinnamon gives the meat sauce of this Greek pasta dish an aromatic and spicy dimension. Mizithra cheese and mozzarella cheese are sprinkled among the pasta for an added richness.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 515 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup water
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ teaspoon white sugar
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 pound ground beef
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 (16 ounce) package rotini pasta
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 6 tomatoes, grated
• 1 sweet yellow onion, grated
• 4 cups shredded Mizithra cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook the rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil.

Step 3

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir ground beef until browned, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, onion, water, tomato paste, cinnamon, sugar, cayenne, salt, and pepper; stir to combine. Simmer meat sauce over medium-low heat until flavors combine, 20 minutes.

Step 4

Pour meat sauce over rotini; mix well. Pour half the pasta mixture into a casserole dish; sprinkle with half the Mizithra cheese and half the mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining pasta mixture; sprinkle remaining Mizithra cheese and mozzarella cheese.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 40 minutes.