Garlic bread pasta bake

Ingredients

• 6 slices bread
• 1/2 cup garlic butter (melted)
• 1/4 cup grated cheese
• 8 ounces (225g) dried pasta shapes ((short macaroni, penne, ziti))
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 14 ounce (400g) ground beef
• 1 large white onion (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried chili flakes (optional)
• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced (or use from a jar))
• 2 cups passata ((1 x 500g carton))
• 1/2 cup grated cheese
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

1. 1

   --- Pasta ---

2. 2

   Boil the pasta in a large saucepan of salted water for the time directed on the packet. This should be around 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Drain the cooked pasta into a colander and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process.

4. 4

   Set aside until needed

5. 5

   --- Garlic bread crust ---

6. 6

   Pre-heat oven to 160°C/320°F

7. 7

   Brush one side of each slice of bread liberally with melted garlic butter

8. 8

   Arrange in a baking dish, buttered side down, taking care to cover the sides. Brush the inside of the bread with the remaining garlic butter.

9. 9

   Bake in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes until the bread starts to crisp and turn golden.

10. 10

    Remove from the oven and sprinkle the base of the bread crust with ½ cup grated cheese.

11. 11

    Return to the oven for a further 5 - 8 minutes until the cheese has melted.

12. 12

    Remove from the oven and set aside while you make the meat sauce.

13. 13

    --- Meat Sauce ---

14. 14

    Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and fry the ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula or wooden spoon, until the meat is no longer pink and has become crumbly.

15. 15

    Chop the onions into 1cm (½") dice and add to the meat, along with the minced garlic. Stir well, and continue frying over a medium heat until the onions start to soften. Do not allow to brown, the onions should just become translucent.

16. 16

    Add all the spices and flavourings (worcestershire sauce, paprika, oregano, parsley and chili and sugar (if using) and stir to combine.

17. 17

    Add the passata and mix well. Cover with a lid and allow to simmer gently for 15 minutes.

18. 18

    Taste for seasoning and add salt if necessary.

19. 19

    Remove from the heat.

20. 20

    --- Assemble and bake ---

21. 21

    Add the cooked pasta to the meat sauce and stir well to combine thoroughly.

22. 22

    Ladle the pasta and sauce into the prepared garlic bread crust.

23. 23

    Sprinkle the top of the pasta and sauce with grated cheese.

24. 24

    Place the dish in the pre-heated oven and allow to bake for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted.

25. 25

    Remove from the oven and serve immediately with a fresh leafy green salad.