Ingredients

  • 1 onion, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 3 stalks celery, finely chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 14 ounces canned tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup beef stock
  • 3 tablespoons parsley, chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • red pepper flakes
  • 8 ounces corkscrew macaroni (or penne)
  • 2 eggs
  • 8 ounces cottage cheese (or plain yogurt, or creme fraiche)
  • 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Method

  • Cook the onion in oil, in a frying pan, on low heat for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Set aside.
  • Add the ground beef to the pan, and cook, breaking it up often until the meat is no longer pink. Add the cooked onions back to the pan with the celery, bay leaf and dried herbs, tomatoes, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes, and beef stock. Cover and simmer gently for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
  • Meanwhile, Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling water until al dente. Drain and add salt to taste.
  • When the meat is cooked, remove the bay leaf and stir in the parsley. Mix the pasta with the meat then turn into a baking dish.
  • Beat the eggs with the cottage cheese (or yogurt or creme fraiche) and grated cheese. Pour over the meat/pasta mixture.
  • Bake at 375F for about 30 minutes until the top has browned and the sauce is bubbly.