Baasto Forno: Baked Pasta

This is a classic Somali baked pasta recipe, it consist layers of pasta, meat sauce and creamy béchamel. It is nice dish to prepare when you have guests over.

Ingredients:

• ½ lb. box spaghetti, cooked & drained
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 onion
• 1 canned whole tomato, crushed/chopped (1 lb.)
• 1 magi beef bouillon
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• ½ cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 2 tablespoon oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Béchamel:

• 4 tablespoons oil
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 2 teaspoons salt
• fresh nutmeg to taste
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:

• In a saucepan, brown ground beef with oil, over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender.
• Then add the tomato and the magi cook for 5 minutes then add the cilantro, coriander, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Continue to cook for another 15 to 20 minutes.

Béchamel sauce:

• In a medium saucepan, heat the milk, in a separate pan heat the oil over medium heat.
• Add the flour and stir until smooth, cook for few more minutes don’t let it get brown.
• Add the hot milk to the mixture slowly while whisking continuously until smooth. Bring to a boil.
• Continue to cook stirring constantly when the sauce thickens about 10 minutes, (add here if you are using parmesan cheese) add the nutmeg and the salt.
• Grease a large baking pan start with the beef sauce and béchamel covering the bottom of the baking pan, then layer the spaghetti, then another layer of the béchamel continue layering until you reach the top by ending with the béchamel.
• If using cheese sprinkle on top.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes until bubbling.