Mediterranean Beef & Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake

Here’s the full recipe for Delicious Pasta with Minced Meat & Roasted Vegetables—simple, juicy, and packed with flavor!

Ingredients

Main:

  • 400 g (14.1 oz) ground beef (or a mix of beef & pork)
  • 1 eggplant, diced
  • 2 red onions, finely chopped
  • 1 carrot, grated or finely diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 tomatoes, diced (or 1 can crushed tomatoes)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 80 ml (⅓ cup) tomato paste
  • 240 ml (1 cup) water or broth
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 250 g (9 oz) pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)

Spices:

  • 1 tsp sweet paprika powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp dried oregano (optional)
  • ½ tsp chili flakes (optional, for heat)
  • Salt & black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley or basil, for garnish
  • Grated Parmesan (optional)

Instructions

1. Prep the Vegetables

  • Dice eggplant, sprinkle with salt, and let sit for 10 mins (to remove bitterness). Rinse and pat dry.
  • Chop onions, pepper, tomatoes, and mince garlic. Grate or finely dice carrot.

2. Cook the Pasta

  • Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water.

3. Sauté the Meat & Vegetables

  • Heat olive oil in a large pan. Cook onions until soft (~3 mins).
  • Add ground beef, breaking it up. Cook until browned (5 mins).
  • Stir in carrots, red pepper, eggplant. Cook for 5-7 mins until softened.
  • Add garlic, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper. Stir for 1 min.

4. Make the Sauce

  • Add tomatoes, tomato paste, water. Simmer for 10-15 mins until thickened.
  • Adjust seasoning (add chili flakes or oregano if using).

5. Combine & Serve

  • Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce. Add a splash of pasta water if needed.
  • Garnish with fresh herbs & Parmesan.

Tips for Extra Flavor

🔥 Roast the eggplant first (toss in oil, bake at 200°C/400°F for 20 mins) for a deeper taste.
🍷 Deglaze with red wine before adding tomatoes for richness.
🧀 Stir in cream or ricotta at the end for a creamy twist.

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