CyprusLiving

I think it is called Pastitsio or something like that - made with minced pork, macaroni and a bechamel type cheese topping.

Often served cold, although I much prefer it hot...

As for the recipe - well, I don't do cooking

The name of the recipe I think you want is:-

"Makaronia Tou Fournou" Oven Baked Macaroni with Minced Meat

Macaroni

1 kg thick macaroni [heaviest available]
1 cup grated cheese
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp dry mint
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp pepper

Cream sauce

5 cups fresh milk
3 tbsp flour
3 tbsp butter
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup grated cheese
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Salt and pepper

Minced Meat

1 tbsp finely chopped onion
1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
1 cup finely chopped ripe tomatoes
1 tsp tomato puree
3/4 kg minced meat [beef and pork mixed]
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup corn oil
salt and pepper

First, prepare the meat mixture. Heat oil in a frying pan and add the onions. Add the meat and stir until lightly brown. Pour in the wine and when boils, add parsley, tomatoes, salt, pepper and tomato puree. Stir and simmer for approx 30 mins.
For the cream. Heat the milk until it boils. Heat oil in a different pan and add flour to it slowly. Stir constantly until thick and smooth. Add the hot milk, little by little until it becomes a smooth cream. Remone from heat and add the egg yolks, grated cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
For the macaroni. Boil water and add salt, oil then macaroni. Cook for 6 - 8 min. Drain and put into large bowl. Add pepper, mint,cinnamon and 3 tbsp of cream mixture and mix well. Grease an oven dish with butter and put in half the macaroni. Sprinkle with half the grated cheese and cover with half the cream. Add the meat, then the rest of the macaroni. Cover with rest of cream and sprinkle with the rest of grated cheese Bake in oven 200degrees C for about 10 - 15 mins or until golden brown. Cut into squares - can be eaten hot or cold

Hope this is it - and enjoy

Ruth x

You are both correct - this popular dish is known by both names.

At Northern part of the island . We call it Firin Makarnasi (Baked Macaroni)

Firin =oven

it's means macaroni cooked in the oven.

this is how we make it .as u know most of the TC's does not eat pork , we make it with beef mince or chicken mince.


Firin Makarnasi (Baked Macaroni)

Ingredients
100 gr butter
200 gr onion -finely chopped
650 gr minced beef
900 gr riped tomatoes -peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
½ tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon sugar
Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
Seasoning
100 gr Hellim (halloumi )cheese

For the sauce
50 gr flour
600 ml milk
3 eggs -well beaten
Seasoning

Preparation
In a frying pan heat 50 gr of the butter and fry the onions for about 5 minutes until they are soft, add the minced meat, all the spices, salt and pepper and fry gently for 10 minutes stirring all the time. Then add the skinned and finely chopped (or grated) tomatoes, together with the tomato paste and sugar. Cook gently for a further 10-15 minutes.

To make the sauce melt the butter in a medium saucepan and add the flour. Cook the roux gently for 2-3 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and add the milk a little at a time, beating all the time. Replace on the heat and bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Add 1 tablespoon of the hot sauce into the well beaten eggs and pour the beaten eggs into the sauce. Cook the sauce 4-5 minutes, stirring all the time without boiling.

Cook the macaroni in plenty of boiling salted water, until soft but firm. Drain well. Heat the rest of the butter and pour over the macaroni.

Into a well greased baking tray, put half of the cooked macaroni, sprinkle with cheese, then spread the minced meat sauce on top, into which 2 tablespoons white sauce is added and well mixed. Top it up with the rest of the macaroni, sprinkle more cheese over and cover with the white sauce. Put the rest of the cheese on the top and bake in a moderately hot oven until brown and crusty on the top.

Agree totally with kuzeyli. Don't try to mix beef and pork. Beef mince is best. Yummy. Great recipe, kuzeyli - almost same as my hubbies!