MACARONI - PERSIAN STYLE SPAGHETTI

Macaroni is a popular Iranian dish featuring spaghetti pasta cooked with a savory tomato-based sauce, ground beef onions and spices like turmeric, cinnamon and saffron.Macaroni is served with a side salad, offering a comforting and flavourful twist on traditional spaghetti.

Macaroni ~ Persian Style Spaghetti

• 600g minced beef

• 3 ½ teaspoons salt (divided)

• 1 teaspoon pepper

• 1 teaspoon turmeric

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• A few strands of saffron

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 4 tablespoons tomato paste

• 700g jar of passata (tomato puree)

• 600g spaghetti

• 5 tablespoons oil (divided)

Instructions:

1. In a large pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft and golden.

2. Add the minced garlic to the onions and cook until fragrant and slightly golden.

3. Add the minced beef to the pan and cook, breaking it apart, until browned.

4. Stir in the tomato paste, 1 ½ teaspoons of salt, pepper, turmeric, and cinnamon. Mix well to combine.

5. Add the saffron (soaked in a bit of cold water) to the meat mixture, then pour in the passata. Stir and let the sauce simmer for 1 hour on low heat, allowing the flavors to meld.

6. In a separate pot, bring water to a boil, adding 2 teaspoons of salt. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions (about 8 minutes for al dente). Drain the pasta and set aside.

7. In a large pan, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Start layering the cooked spaghetti and the meat mixture, alternating between layers of spaghetti and meat, finishing with a final layer of spaghetti. Press down gently.

8. Let the layers cook on medium heat for 45  minutes to create a crispy bottom layer. Carefully flip the pan onto a plate to reveal the crispy, golden crust. with a crispy layer of golden tahdig and served with a side salad, offering a comforting and flavourful twist on traditional spaghetti