Makaronia me Kima: A Greek Comfort Classic

 Makaronia me kima, a beloved Greek dish, pairs spaghetti or macaroni with a flavorful spiced meat sauce. Similar to spaghetti with Bolognese sauce, this dish features ground beef, tomatoes, onions, and garlic, seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg, and herbs. It's often garnished with grated cheese like kefalotyri or parmesan and served as a hearty main course, often accompanied by Greek salad and fresh bread.

Straightforward and adored by all ages, makaronia me kima is a Greek favorite. For this traditional dish, you'll need spaghetti, minced meat, olive oil, onion, garlic, bay leaf, tomatoes, salt, pepper, and the star ingredient, salt-dried myzithra. Myzithra, a tangy Greek whey cheese, melts with the hot sauce, adding irresistible flavor. Graviera, another option, offers equal deliciousness.

Mizithra, or myzithra, is a Greek whey cheese crafted from sheep's and/or goat's milk and whey. It boasts a tangy, slightly salty taste and is used in traditional Greek recipes like spanakopita and dakos salad, or as a pasta topping. Salt-dried myzithra creates a crumbly cheese, perfect for pasta.

Graviera, made from sheep's or cow's milk, is a hard, aged Greek cheese with a sweet, nutty profile. It serves as a versatile cheese for cooking and is also enjoyed on its own. Discover the rich flavors of Greece with this makaronia me kima recipe, taking only 15 minutes to prepare and serving 6.


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

  1. Take a food processor and purée the onion and garlic with half the olive oil.
  2. Take a saucepan, add, and heat the remaining olive oil.
  3. Sauté the onion mixture for a few minutes. 
  4. Add the minced meat and mix until it changes color to white. 
  5. Add the bay leaf, salt, pepper, and cinnamon stick. 
  6. Simmer for 2 – 3 minutes. 
  7. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, and some water and simmer for about 45 minutes, until the sauce is thick.
  8. Discard bay leaf and cinnamon stick.
  9. Boil the spaghetti according to package instructions and drain.
  10. Serve the spaghetti on each plate.
  11. Then, sprinkle a tablespoon of cheese on top of pasta or over meat sauce and mix.

This makaronia me kima recipe is quite easy to follow. Enjoy!