Pasta with Béchamel (Macarona Béchamel)

Ingredients

• Penne pasta
• 350 g minced beef
• 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 carrots, finely chopped
• 1 can corn
• 1 can sliced mushrooms
• 2 tomatoes, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 stock cube
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Five-spice mix (black pepper, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon)
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 750 ml milk
• 1 packet béchamel mix (or 3 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp flour, a stock cube, salt and a pinch of nutmeg)

Method

1. Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.
2. Fry the onion until soft, add the meat and spices and cook through, then add the vegetables, stock cube and tomato paste and cook until done.
3. Béchamel: melt the butter, add the flour and toast it, then add the milk gradually while stirring until thick. Season with a pinch of salt, the stock cube, a pinch of nutmeg, a pinch of black pepper and a handful of mozzarella.
4. Layer pasta, then the meat with a little béchamel, then pasta, then béchamel and mozzarella.
5. Bake until the cheese melts and turns lightly golden.