Greek Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

30-MINUTE GREEK MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 220C/430F.
• Cook the macaroni according to the packet instructions, then drain and tip back into the pan. Stir through a drizzle of oil and put a lid on the pan to stop it sticking and drying out.
• Meanwhile, pulse the cheeses, milk, eggs and nutmeg (if using) in a food processor until combined (about 10 seconds). Set aside.
• Wilt the spinach in a roughly 10 inch/26 cm cast iron skillet/frying pan (if you have one - see notes) for a few minutes, then tip into the pan with the pasta.
• Add the evaporated milk 'sauce' and combine well, then pour into the cast iron pan. Smooth down, then sprinkle evenly with the breadcrumbs and parmesan.
• Bake for about 15 minutes or until nicely golden and bubbling. Serve immediately.

GREEK MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°; bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil; add in macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, 8-10 minutes until al dente; drain and place in a large bowl.
• To blanch the spinach: bring 4 quarts salted water to a simmer over med-high heat; have ready a large bowl of ice water and a slotted spoon; add spinach to simmering water (in three or 4 batches) and submerge it.
• Let cook about 15 seconds, remove with the slotted spoon, and plunge into the ice water; let spinach cool completely, drain it, and squeeze out the excess water; if the leaves are large, chop them into bite-sized pieces; set aside.
• In a blender or food processor, puree the feta cheese with the milk, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper (blend in two batches, if needed); this will not be completely smooth; there will be very small chunks of cheese remaining.
• Stir the cheese mixture into the cooked macaroni; then add the minced rosemary and thyme, garlic, red pepper flakes, olives, cherry tomatoes, and blanched spinach.
• Transfer mixture to a 13x9 inch baking dish; sprinkle with parmesan cheese and the mixed herbs.
• Bake on the middle shelf 25-30 minutes until the pasta is heated through and the top is slightly browned.

GREEK LAMB & MACARONI BAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and cook for 10 mins until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 min more, then tip in the lamb mince, turn up the heat and brown, breaking up the mince with a wooden spoon.
• Once the lamb is browned, add the cinnamon, crumbled stock cube, tomatoes and oregano. Stir well and simmer for 15 mins, covered, then for 15 mins, uncovered, until the sauce has thickened and the tomatoes have cooked down.
• Meanwhile, cook the macaroni following pack instructions. Drain well. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Mix together the ricotta, most of the parmesan and the milk with plenty of seasoning, and stir into the macaroni. Tip the mince into a large baking dish, top with the macaroni mixture, and scatter over the remaining parmesan. Bake for 30 mins until golden and bubbling. Serve hot with garlic bread, if you like.

GREEK MACARONI & CHEESE WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut chicken into 2 by 1/2-inch strips Arrange the strips in a single layer on a plate or baking sheet (this makes it easier to season and dredge them). Sprinkle evenly with 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/8 teaspoons black pepper. Place the flour in a shallow bowl, and dredge the chicken in flour on both sides.
• Place a large (12- to 14-inch) sauté pan over high heat for a couple of minutes. When hot, add the olive oil, swirl the pan to coat, and add the chicken strips in a single layer. Cook in batches if needed. Cook until slightly browned, about 1 minute. Turn the pieces or stir them so they brown evenly, about 1-1/2 minutes more.
• Reduce the heat to medium-high. Push the chicken strips to the side of the pan as they continue to cook, and add the garlic. Cook just until fragrant, about 1 minute, but do not let it brown or it will taste bitter.
• Add the tomatoes, season with 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/8 teaspoons black pepper, and cook until they start to give off their juices, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a medium (6- to 8-quart) pot of water to a boil. Salt it generously (it should taste like the sea). Stir in the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain (but don't rinse, or you'll rinse away starches that will help thicken the sauce) and return to the empty pot.
• Add the spinach, oregano, remaining 1/2 teaspoons salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoons black pepper to the pan with the tomatoes. Stir until the spinach has wilted, about 5 minutes. Add the wine to the pan, stirring to scrape up any browned bits, and cook over medium-high heat until reduced slightly and the chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Add the feta and olives to the pan, stirring well to incorporate. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter, a tablespoon at a time, until the sauce has thickened slightly. (Careful! Your pan can't be too hot or the butter and sauce will separate and look oily. If that happens, take the sauce off the heat and add more feta to help the sauce bind together.).
• Stir the sauce into the cooked and drained pasta in the pot. Place over medium heat and simmer for 2 minutes to thicken the sauce and allow the pasta to absorb the flavors, stirring now and then.
• Serve in individual bowls topped with Parmesan cheese.

GREEK MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In microwave safe bowl or sauce pan combine milk, cream cheese, ricotta, Parmesan, feta, mozzarella/cheddar and Greek seasoning.
• Blend well and heat stirring to prevent burning.
• Add spinach, mushrooms, olives; stir thoroughly.
• Spray no-stick spray in baking dish, spread out macaroni and cover with cheese/veggie mix
• Bake for 35 minutes.

MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH GREEK YOGURT AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Set an oven rack to the top position and preheat to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking pan with aluminum foil. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain macaroni, reserving 2 1/2 cups pasta water. Pour macaroni back into the pot.
• While the macaroni is cooking, place prosciutto on the prepared baking pan.
• Cook prosciutto on the top rack of the preheated oven until dry and crispy, but not burnt, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and chop roughly. Lower the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and lower the rack to the middle position.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for 1 minute. Add garlic powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, and pepper; cook for 1 minute more. Whisk in Greek yogurt and cook until heated through and bubbling, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in 1 1/2 cups of the reserved pasta water; cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add cream cheese and stir until melted. Add a generous 1/4 cup each of Gruyere and Cheddar cheeses, stirring until thoroughly melted; repeat until all cheese had been added and sauce is thick. Stir in as much of the remaining pasta water as necessary to reach desired consistency.
• Stir spinach into the cooked macaroni. Add cheese sauce; stir until combined and macaroni is coated. Pour into the prepared baking pan and sprinkle prosciutto over top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are bubbling slightly, 15 to 20 minutes.