How to Make Greek Meat Pasta (Makaronia me kima) - A Step-by-Step Guide

Greek cuisine is known for its delicious and hearty dishes, and one of the most beloved and popular dishes is Makaronia me kima, also known as Greek meat pasta. This traditional Greek dish is a simple and comforting meal that is filled with rich flavors and aromatic herbs. It's the perfect dish to prepare for a family dinner or a gathering with friends, as it's both satisfying and easy to make.

Makaronia me kima consists of pasta cooked with a savory meat sauce that is full of Mediter...

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Ingredients

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

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hr 10 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
  • Servings: 10
  • Yield: 10 servings

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • 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.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 40 minutes.
  • Nutrition

    515 cal.

    • Total Fat: 22g
    • Saturated Fat: 9g
    • Cholesterol: 69mg
    • Sodium: 1278mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 95g
    • Dietary Fiber: 6g
    • Total Sugars: 11g
    • Protein: 24g
    • Vitamin C: 11mg
    • Calcium: 121mg
    • Iron: 3mg
    • Potassium: 450mg