
If it dries out, you can add a little splash of water before heating to make it saucier.Mezzi Gomiti or elbow pasta is a great shape for holding lots of lovely sauce!Įvery pasta shape has some gastro-geometrical rationale behind it and this mezzi gomiti elbow pasta is no exception. Reheat in the microwave, or on low heat over the stovetop. Leftover pasta can be stored tightly covered in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can serve this with garlic bread or dinner rolls too, or just enjoy it plain! It’s definitely filling enough. You can serve with a heavier salad, like an Eggplant Pomegranate Salad, Cucumber avocado salad, Strawberry Salad with Grilled Halloumi and Candied Pecans, or Beetroot Arugula Salad with a Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette. The salad’s acidity cuts through the heartiness of the dish. I love this with a simple green salad with an olive oil lemon dressing. Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning accordingly. Don’t feel like you need to follow the suggested spices too closely. If you want to do 50/50 beef/lamb, that’s an option too.Īdd the spices that you like or have on hand.
#Elbow pasta free
You’ll need to add some pasta water back into the sauce while it’s cooking.Ĭustomize this however you like! If you want to omit the meat, feel free to do so. Unless you like it really mushy, cook until al dente, because it’ll cook a little further when you add it back to the sauce.ĭon’t forget to reserve some pasta water while draining the cooked pasta (I’m frequently guilty of forgetting and throwing all the pasta water out!). Stir to combine and cook until pasta is warmed through again.ĭon’t over cook the pasta. The cooked pasta goes into this tomato meat sauce.Add in a spoonful of pasta water, and simmer on low heat for another few minutes. Add tomato paste and crushed tomatoes and simmer.I like to drain any extra fat from the beef before adding the spices. Soften the onions, and the vegetables if using, then add the beef and cook until brown. This is something I never would have thought of on my own! Once the pasta is cooked, drain and set aside, and reserve a few ladlefuls of that tomato pasta cooking water.

Add a little tomato paste to the boiling water so the pasta cooks in a flavorful tomato broth.

Peas, mushrooms, corn, or omit them! The choice is yours. I think this gives a lot of body to the sauce, and some extra nutrition. Optionally, like I did, you can add a little diced zucchini and carrots. The veggies: Onion and garlic are staples. I’ve also previously used canned diced tomatoes that I’ve blended quickly to get to a smoother consistency. The original recipe calls for fresh tomatoes, which you can of course use, but I wanted to make it easier. The spice in this dish is what transforms this from an Italian style pasta to a Middle Eastern one.įor the tomato sauce: Some tomato paste to add concentration and depth to the sauce, as well as a can of crushed tomatoes. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the spices. I used seven spices (like Arabic style mixed spices), paprika, turmeric, basil, cinnamon powder, and garlic powder. The meat: ground beef, I like using lean. She has millions of views and knows what she’s doing! What ingredients do you need to make Arabic macaroni?įor the pasta: elbow macaroni, or some other tube like pasta of your choice. It’s adapted from the very popular YouTube channel, Jedir 3waish. You can even use whole wheat pasta for extra fiber. It’s healthy! A scant amount of fat in the form of olive oil, lean ground beef, some veggies. It’s a staple! You have to have a good, easy, stovetop macaroni recipe and I’ll bet this is the one! The little twist of spices, like turmeric and Arabic mixed spices, give this a hearty and exotic flavor. It comes together in a flash, and with whatever ingredients you have on hand. Some people bake the cooked macaroni in the oven, but I like the stovetop method more- it’s saucier! Why should I make Macarona? You can add veggies like I did or keep it plain.

Macarona is Arabic macaroni! We cook the ground beef with some mixed spices, and add to it a concentrated tomato sauce. It’s basically how we say macaroni in Arabic. It’s an easy family favorite that is a real crowdpleaser! What is Macarona?

An utterly comforting Middle Eastern take on macaroni, macarona is what we call an elbow macaroni cooked dish with spiced ground beef.
