Ingredients

  • 500 g beef mince or 500 g ground chicken
  • 200 g elbow macaroni (you can use any shape and also a bigger qty)
  • 2 teaspoons oil
  • 3 big onions, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground aniseed (optional)
  • 2 green chilies, chopped
  • 3 -4 big tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala, plus
  • extra garam masala, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • 3 tablespoons garlic, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon chopped ginger
  • 3 cups water, 150% the volume of the macaroni (e.g. if the pasta measures 1 cup use 1 1/2 cups of water)
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon oregano or 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup or 2 tablespoons tomato paste, plus
  • extra tomato ketchup, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro, to garnish
  • 2 tablespoons grated cheddar cheese, to garnish (optional)
  • salt

Method

  • Wash the mince and drain well.
  • Saute 2 onions and 1 1/2 tblsp ginger and the garlic in 1 tsp oil till translucent.
  • Add the green chillies minced.
  • Now add the mince and all the spice powders except the cayenne.
  • Add salt to taste.Cook till almost done and dry and transfer to another pan.
  • Mix in the tomato paste or ketchup and set aside.
  • Add 1 tsp oil to the vessel again and saute the remaining onion and garlic till nice and golden brown.
  • Add some soya sauce/ sugar to help this process (a tsp or so- a trick I use to aid the onions in the process of frying).
  • Add the tomatoes chopped fine and stir well till they are incorporated.
  • Add the sesame seeds, the dried herb and the cayenne pepper powder.
  • Add the mince and stir.
  • Add the macaroni and the water.
  • add a little more salt to taste.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Cover with a lid and simmer for 5-6 minutes till most of the water has been absorbed.
  • Mix and garnish with cliantro chopped and cheddar cheese grated.
  • Add tomato ketchup to taste if you think it necessary.