Macarona Béchamel

Middle Eastern food is, once again, in for the win! This Egyptian-inspired Béchamel Pasta Bake, also known as Macarona Béchamel, is a hearty and creamy pasta casserole that is fighting to win a standing ovation from your guests this evening! A casserole layered with a well-seasoned beef mixture, baked pasta, and a deliciously creamy Béchamel sauce! Topped with a golden layer of Mozzarella cheese? Simply irresistible! This wonderful dish is a hearty and creamy pasta casserole that is fighting to win a standing ovation from your guests this evening!

Ingredients:
Red Pasta And Beef:
1 lb. elbow noodles
1 medium onion, cubed
1 lb. ground beef
½ tsp. salt to taste
½ tsp. seven spices, or black pepper
¼ cup olive oil
28 oz. pasta sauce
1½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Béchamel Sauce:
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
½ cup all-purpose flour
3½ cups milk
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. ground black pepper

Instructions:
Béchamel Sauce:
In a medium pot over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Sprinkle in flour and whisk for 1 to 2 minutes until combined.
While whisking, slowly pour in the milk. Whisk aggressively to break up any lumps. Continue to whisk for about 2-4 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken. Remove off of the heat and season with salt and pepper.

Béchamel Pasta Bake:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Boil the elbow noodles according to the box instructions, then drain. Split the elbow noodles in half in two separate bowls and set aside. Meanwhile, add 1/4 cup of olive oil to a pan on medium high hear. Sauté the cubed onions for about 3-4 minutes, then add the ground beef and continue to sear for 5-7 minutes until ground beef is cooked. Pour the cooked ground beef and onions onto one bowl of cooked noodles. Add all the pasta sauce over them and mix well. Pour the pasta into a 9×13 baking pan, or a10-12 inch round pan, then spread it and level out the pasta. In the other bowl, pour over the prepared béchamel sauce. Mix, then pour over the red pasta and level out the pasta once again. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese all over the top. Bake for 30 minutes, then broil on high for 1-4 minutes or more if needed until cheese is golden. Serve warm!

Tips for Perfect Results:
Don’t overcook your pasta. Your dish will continue to bake for about 30 minutes after you assemble everything together.
Use room temperature butter and milk (not hot or boiling). Using cold ingredients will make whisking the ingredients a bit of a hassle.
To enhance the taste, some people add broth to the mix. This is completely optional, but it is said to add so much flavor to your Béchamel pasta.

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