"Makaronia me Kima", which literally means in Greek spaghetti with minced meat, is basically similar to spaghetti with Bolognaise sauce.
As it is straightforward to make and a beloved dish to both adults and children, "makaronia me kima" is one of the most popular dishes in Greece. To make this traditional Greek-style spaghetti in meat sauce you need the following ingredients: spaghetti, minced meat, olive oil, onion, garlic clove, bay leaf, tomatoes, salt, pepper, and of course salt-dried myzithra. It is the myzithra that will melt with the hot sauce will melt the cheese and make this spaghetti so delicious! Lately, I have been using graviera instead of myzithra. Both of them are equally delicious.
Mizithra or myzithra (μυζήθρα in Greek) is a popular whey cheese or mixed milk-whey cheese from sheep or goats, or both. You can find this cheese, either fresh or as a salt-dried grating cheese in any local Greek food store.
This makaronia me kima recipe takes only 15 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook. It serves 6 people.
Makaronia me Kima - Ingredients
- 3 - 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 large onion
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 300 grams (10.5 oz) minced beef
- 1 bay leaf
- 5 ripe tomatoes or 1 tin - 500 grams (1.1 lbs), tomatoes puréed with1 a tablespoon of tomato paste
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 packet - 500 grams (1.1 lbs) spaghetti
- Salt-dried myzithra, finely grated.
Makaronia me Kima - How to Make
- Take a food processor and purée the onion and garlic with half the olive oil.
- Take a saucepan, add and heat the remaining olive oil.
- Sauté the onion mixture for a few minutes.
- Add the minced meat and mix until it changes color to white.
- Add the bay leaf, salt, pepper, and cinnamon stick.
- Simmer for 2 – 3 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, and some water and simmer for about 45 minutes, until the sauce is thick.
- Discard bay leaf and cinnamon stick.
- Boil the spaghetti according to package instructions and drain.
- Serve the spaghetti on each plate.
- Then, sprinkle a tablespoon of cheese on top of pasta or over meat sauce and mix.