Egyptian Creamy Baked Pasta with Bechamel Sauce

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil provides healthy fats and is often less expensive.

cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Nutritional yeast offers a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: water + cornstarch

Almond milk is lower in calories and can mimic creaminess.

meat

🥗Healthier: mushrooms

💰Cheaper: lentils

Mushrooms add umami while lentils are a cost-effective protein.

Heat a pan and brown 2 lbs of ground beef, then drain any excess fat.

Add 2 large diced onions to the pan and sauté until translucent.

Season the meat and onions with salt, black pepper, and optionally a dash of bot.

Add tomato sauce to the meat mixture and let it simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.

Boil pen pasta until al dente, then drain and mix with the prepared meat sauce.

In a pot, melt equal parts of butter and flour until golden.

Gradually whisk in a mix of milk and heavy cream until smooth.

Season the sauce with salt, black pepper, and a hint of nutmeg.

Keep stirring until the sauce thickens to a velvety texture.

Pour the sauce over the pasta and meat mixture to cover the surface.

Bake in the oven until it reaches a beautiful golden hue.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens