Frugal Foodie Friday - Finnish Macaroni Casserole

Thursday, October 31, 2013 Add Comment Edit

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...If you cook for a young eater who complains about spicy food, you might want to give this recipe a try. It's for a Finnish macaroni casserole that's called Suomen Makaronilaatikko and it is much loved by the children of Finland. The casserole is easy to prepare and the ingredients required to make it are truly inexpensive. That makes it a perfect candidate to feature on Frugal Foodie Friday. This layered custard casserole is mildly spiced, but if you would like to try it with a bit of a kick, add a Jalapeno to the meat sauce and use Pepper Jack cheese to top the custard. This is a simple, satisfying meal that is perfect for a late fall or winter meal. It is traditionally served with ketchup. I do hope you'll give this casserole a try. Here is how it's made.

Finnish Macaroni Casserole (Suomen Makaronilaatikko)...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of scandinavianfood.com

Ingredients:
1 tablespoons oil
1-1/2 lbs ground meat
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cups cooked elbow macaroni
3/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated
2 cups milk
3 eggs
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
salt
pepper

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray an 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
2) Heat oil in skillet and cook ground meat and chopped onion together. Season lightly with salt and pepper and cook until meat changes color and onion softens.
3) Place cooked macaroni in bottom of prepared baking dish. Spread meat mixture over macaroni.
4) Whisk together milk and eggs. Add nutmeg and about half of the cheese. Pour over contents in casserole. Top with the remaining cheese and bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and the casserole is heated throughout. Serve with ketchup. Yield: 6 servings.