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Mqarrun il-Forn (Maltese Baked Macaroni)

Traditional Maltese baked macaroni with rich meat sauce, eggs, and cheese. Comforting, golden, and perfect for Sunday lunch.

Traditional Maltese baked macaroni with rich meat sauce, eggs, and cheese. Comforting, golden, and perfect for Sunday lunch.

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Prep25 minsCook60 minsServes6DifficultyMedium
Watercolour illustration of Maltese baked macaroni with beef sauce and a golden cheese topping.

Bright, satisfying and built for real life.

This recipe brings together the generous flavours of Maltese cooking in a format that works on a busy day. Read through the method before starting and adjust seasoning to your taste.

The recipe

Mqarrun il-Forn (Maltese Baked Macaroni)

25 min prep60 min cook85 min total6–8 people
Scale:

Ingredients

Ingredients

Method

  1. 1

    Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil and cook the onion until soft. Add the garlic and minced beef, cooking until browned.

  2. 2

    Simmer: Add the wine if using, then the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 20-25 minutes until thick.

  3. 3

    Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta until just underdone. Drain well.

  4. 4

    Combine: Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan 170°C). Mix the pasta with the meat sauce. Cool for a few minutes, then stir in the beaten eggs and half the cheese.

  5. 5

    Bake: Spoon into a greased baking dish, top with the remaining cheese, and bake for 30-35 minutes until set and golden. Rest before slicing.

Mqarrun il-Forn is Maltese baked macaroni, a close cousin of timpana but without the pastry shell. It is rich, comforting, and often served for Sunday lunch or family gatherings.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve with salad or vegetables
  • Cut into squares after resting
  • Good warm or at room temperature
  • Excellent as leftovers the next day

Traditional Notes & Tips

  • The pasta should be slightly undercooked before baking
  • Let the sauce thicken so the bake sets neatly
  • Eggs help bind the macaroni
  • Timpana wraps a similar filling in pastry; mqarrun il-forn is baked directly in the dish
  • Resting makes slicing easier

Recipe adapted from Maltese Recipes.

Storage

No specific storage guidance is provided in the source recipe.

Freezing

Check the recipe notes for any dish-specific freezing guidance.

Reheating

Follow current food-safety guidance and reheat cooked food thoroughly where appropriate.

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