Kritharaki ground beef casserole à la Didi

Ingredients for 12 servings:

• 2 kg minced beef
• 1 kg Kritharaki (rice-shaped noodles)
• 5 m.-large shallot(s)
• 2 liters of beef broth
• 5 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 liter of cream
• 5 tsp salt
• 5 tsp white pepper, ground
• 5 tsp thyme
• 5 tbsp olive oil with truffle
• 250 g Gouda, grated
• 4 tomatoes

Instructions

Working time approx. 30 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 1 hour; Total time approx. 1 hour 30 minutes

Fry the minced meat in oil until browned and crumbly, season with salt and pepper, and then remove from the pan. In the same pan, sauté the onions and tomato paste, deglaze with the broth, and season with salt, thyme, and pepper. Layer the kritharaki and the minced meat in a baking dish, starting with the pasta and ending with the pasta. Pour the tomato sauce over the meat. Then pour the cream evenly over the meat. Finally, sprinkle with grated Gouda cheese. Bake at 200°C (top/bottom heat) for 20 minutes, then remove from the oven. Slice the tomatoes and garnish the casserole with them. Return to the oven and finish cooking for 20-25 minutes.