Macaroni casserole facts for kids
Macaroni casserole baked with cheese
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| Course | Pasta |
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| Main ingredients | Macaroni, eggs, milk |
Macaroni casserole is a yummy baked dish made with pasta. It's super popular in homes across northern Europe. This dish usually has cooked macaroni mixed with eggs and milk. Sometimes, people add tasty things like meat, veggies, or fish. Often, it's topped with cheese or crispy breadcrumbs.
It's a bit like a frittata, but the big difference is that it's baked completely in the oven. Many people love to eat it with ketchup!
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Macaroni Casserole Around the World
Finland's Favorite: Makaronilaatikko
In Finland, this dish is called makaronilaatikko in Finnish or makaronilåda in Swedish. It means "macaroni casserole" and is one of Finland's most loved traditional foods. A survey in 2010 showed it was the second most popular dinner dish in Finland!
Today, makaronilaatikko is often made with minced meat. But long ago, it was traditionally made without meat or cheese. When it didn't have meat, it was sometimes used instead of potatoes with a meal. Later, it became the main part of the delicious dish we know today. You can easily find macaroni casseroles in Finnish grocery stores as ready-to-eat meals.
Sweden's Makaronipudding
In Sweden, this baked pasta dish is called makaronipudding or makaronilåda. The Swedish version often includes yummy ingredients like ham, leek, and cheese.
Malta's Imqarrun
In Malta, there's a baked dish called imqarrun. It's made with macaroni, a meat sauce similar to bolognese, and egg. Other versions might add chicken livers, hard-boiled eggs, peas, and bacon.
The macaroni is usually covered with a layer of grated cheese or a creamy sauce called besciamella (béchamel). This melts while baking and helps hold the pasta together. Don't mix this up with timpana, which has a pastry crust around it!
North Macedonia's Makaroni vo Tava
In North Macedonia, the dish is known as makaroni vo tava. This version is made with macaroni, minced meat, and a bolognese-style meat sauce. When it bakes, makaroni vo tava is topped with grated cheese or crumbled white cheese. Sometimes, it can also include egg, just like the Maltese version.
Indonesia's Makaroni Schotel
In Indonesia, this dish is sometimes called makaroni schotel or makaroni schaal. The Dutch brought this dish to Indonesia a long time ago. The words 'Schotel' or 'schaal' come from the Dutch language and mean 'dish'. They refer to the baking dish used to make this food. The Indonesian version usually has cheese and meat. Smoked beef is very common, but people also use sausage or tuna. Sometimes, even potato is added!
