Maltese Macaroni Cake (Imqarrun il-forn)

Why You’ll Like It

• A Mediterranean speciality!  Sicilians and Greeks have pasticcio, Maltesers call it “Mqarrun il-Forn” aka Macaroni in the Oven.
• A crowd-pleaser recipe. Almost every Maltese kid loves the recipe and they use it for parties, stand-up weddings, picnics and also for a packed lunch. Apart from that you’ll find it even in the Maltese local “pastizzi” shops where they sell local savory pastries.
• It’s AM-AZ-ING. Trust me.

For the Perfect Maltese Macaroni

• Don’t overcook the top. It’s nice the have a little overcooked macaroni but too much will taste bad.
• See what works for your family. Some people like the pasta bake a little loose, and some like it all stuck together so that it can be eaten as a sandwich.
• Encase in pastry and it will become a Maltese Timpana.

What You Need

• Pasta – Use striped rigatoni, elbow pasta or short pasta.
• Meat – Use a mix of minced beef and pork. I use mostly lean ground beef but a 1:1 ratio makes this macaroni cake special.
• Tomatoes – You can use canned whole crushed tomatoes or tomato puree. Don’t use fresh tomatoes unless you know that they’re ripe enough to make a good sauce for the pasta.
• Tomato paste – Tomato paste gives color and taste to the pasta.
• Peas – Use fresh or frozen peas. Leave them out if your guests or family don’t like it or have pea allergy.
• Milk – Use whole milk or plant-based in case of special dietary requirements.
• Eggs – The eggs are used in the recipe to bind the ingredients together and give that crusty top to the pie. 
• Cheese – Use parmesan grated cheese or any other cheese that can be used for bakes and doesn’t have a strong taste.
• Spices – Use a pinch of mild curry. I usually leave this out but Maltese people like it with the curry. Season with salt and pepper.
• Optional –
  • Boiled eggs – This is optional but some Maltesers like to add boiled eggs to their macaroni cake.
  • Soffritto – This is optional. You can sautee chopped carrots, onions and celery before adding the meat. Alternatively, you can use 1/2 cup of homemade stock with the meat and cook long enough until all the liquid dries up.

Save Your Maltese Baked Macaroni For Later

• Leftovers: Allow to cool and refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days in an air-tight container. Reheat in the microwave or for 15-20 minutes in the oven at 180C
• Freezing: Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the oven or microwave.

Serving Maltese Macaroni Cake

So most Maltese families serve this with fresh Maltese bread with butter on the side. Maltese bread is one of the tastiest breads around the world – and NO I’m not exaggerating. Most foreigners who visit Malta all agree on this thing.

Another ingredient not missing on a Maltese table is more Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle on the top and enjoy. Pair with sparkling water, a Maltese Lager or Kinnie and enjoy!

Health Info

• Calories:
• Sugar:
• Sodium:
• Fat:
• Carbohydrates:
• Fiber:
• Protein:

More Pasta Bake Recipes:

• Mary Berry Tuna Pasta Bake
• Mary Berry Chicken Pasta Bake
• Salmon Sushi Bake
• Jamie Oliver Chicken and Mushroom Lasagne
• Mary Berry Beef Cannelloni Recipe