Imqarrun il-Forn is an Italian inspired pasta dish from Malta, made with macaroni baked in a bolognese sauce along with creamy cheese. The top is often crispy with added breadcrumbs with soft layers in between.
I across this recipe that talked about making this recipe. It had minced meat in the dish for the bolognese sauce that I had to replace along with layers of grilled eggplant, with a layer of cheese and breadcrumbs.
While searching for a street food starting with I, I came across Iskrambol a sweet drink made with banana and condensed milk a popular street food from Filipino. Since I was keen on doing only savoury street food, I had to give up on that.
Macaroni is a regular Saturday Breakfast for Chinnu, sometimes Konda also has this. So I planned on making this for Konda’s breakfast as I couldn’t fit this for any other meal. I made the regular white sauce along with this sauce as well.
So finally this creamy Imqarrun il-forn is my pick for I in A to Z International Street Foods. If you are interested to know the Flatbread for I, check this post.
In this A to Z International Street Foods:
A for Arancini
B for Bunny Chow
C for Chatamari
D for Dürüm
E for Empanada
F for Fataa’ir Farmaajo
G for Gilgeori Toast
H for Hua Juan Bao
Step By Step Pictures for making the Mince for Imqarrun il-Forn
Imqarrun il-Forn | Maltese Baked Macaroni
1 cup Macaroni Pasta
1 /2 cup Brinjal / Eggplant, grilled
1 / 2 cup Mozzarella
1 /2 cup Cheddar
Breadcrumbs for sprinkling on top
For the bolognese sauce
1 medium Onions
3 Cloves Garlic
1 /2 cup Soya Granules
1 cup Tomato Puree
1 medium Tomato
1 tbsp sugar
Basil handful
Red Chilli Flakes as required
For the Bolognaise sauce
Bring a pot of water to boil with a pinch of turmeric and salt, add the soya granules and simmer for few mins. This gets cooked very quickly, so switch off. Drain on a colander till all the water drips down. If required you a squeeze out the excess water.
Heat a nonstick pan with oil, saute the finely chopped onions till done, add minced garlic. Saute altogether. Then add the chopped tomatoes, red chilli flakes and cook until the tomatoes turn mushy.
Then add the tomato puree, bring to a boil and let the sauce become thick.
Add the boiled soya granules and combine everything well till the ingredients come together well. This takes about 5 to 7 mins.
Add other seasonings and 1 cup water. Simmer until the whole sauce is thick and nicely done.
Assembling the Imqarrun il-forn
Boil the macaroni al dente. Save the water and keep it aside.
I used a long brinjal, so slice it in length. Grill until golden.
Grate the cheese and keep it aside.
In the baking tray, place the boiled pasta, spread a layer of the sauce, next add the grilled eggplant.
Next layer with grated cheese and finally sprinkle some bread crumbs on the top.
Microwave for 2 to 3 mins till the cheese melts.
Serve it hot.
Imqarrun il-Forn | Maltese Baked Macaroni
Ingredients
For the Bolognese sauce
- 1 medium Onions
- 3 Cloves Garlic
- 1 /2 cup Soya Granules
- 1 cup Tomato Puree
- 1 medium Tomato
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- Basil handful
- Red Chilli Flakes as required
For the Baked Macaronie
- 1 cup Macaroni Pasta
- 1 /2 cup Brinjal / Eggplant, grilled
- 1 / 2 cup Mozzarella
- 1 /2 cup Cheddar
- Breadcrumbs for sprinkling on top
Instructions
For the Bolognaise sauce
- Bring a pot of water to boil with a pinch of turmeric and salt, add the soya granules and simmer for few mins. This gets cooked very quickly, so switch off. Drain on a colander till all the water drips down. If required you a squeeze out the excess water.
- Heat a nonstick pan with oil, saute the finely chopped onions till done, add minced garlic. Saute altogether. Then add the chopped tomatoes, red chilli flakes and cook until the tomatoes turn mushy.
- Then add the tomato puree, bring to a boil and let the sauce become thick.
- Add the boiled soya granules and combine everything well till the ingredients come together well. This takes about 5 to 7 mins.
- Add other seasonings and 1 cup water. Simmer until the whole sauce is thick and nicely done.
Assembling the Imqarrun il-forn
- Boil the macaroni al dente. Save the water and keep it aside.
- I used a long brinjal, so slice it in length. Grill until golden.
- Grate the cheese and keep it aside.
- In the baking tray, place the boiled pasta, spread a layer of the sauce, next add the grilled eggplant.
- Next layer with grated cheese and finally sprinkle some bread crumbs on the top.
- Microwave for 2 to 3 mins till the cheese melts.
- Serve it hot.
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Priya Suresh says
Wow, what a find Valli, seriously you rock.. How long you have travelled to get this fabulous dish. Maltese baked macaroni looks like a prefect kid's friendly dish, my macaroni loving kids will definitely enjoy this dish without any fuss.
Harini says
My little one would love to have this for sure. A fantastic find. I am just not sure I want to add egg plant in there.
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner says
Cheesy Macaroni who would say no for this.. yummy.. Love those breadcrumb toppings it is one of my fav part!!
Vaishali Sabnani says
I have always been fond of macaroni, but can never think of combining it with eggplants and soya. Definitely a super find for this tough letter. The dish is so wholesome and the cheese makes it really tempting .
manjulabharathkumar2016 says
wow valli this is amazing recipe , and kudos to your research ..Maltese macroni is looking so out of the world , perfect breakfast for kids who always nod a yes to any pasta recipe. Wonderful use of soya granules to make the Bolognese sauce
manjulabharathkumar2016 says
I just pressed enter without completing the comment 😀 .. am drooling here valli!! You are so great to make this dish in a weekend morning , a sloth like me in the morning should learn something from you 🙂
Gayathri Kumar says
This baked macaroni with the sauce and cheese looks super inviting. With all those melted cheese on top this is one awesome treat for kids..
Padmajha PJ says
The dish in itself looks very tempting. You have put in a lot of though to get the vegetarian version done. And that Iskrambol which you mentioned sounds like a delicious beverage !
Sandhiya says
That's an interesting find Valli and really love how you replaced the meat with eggplants. Macaroni looks so cheesy and delicious.
Pavani says
What a cheesy and delicious looking pasta dish that is Valli. I have to try this recipe for my pasta loving family some time. I like the idea of adding soy granules to bump up the protein in the dish.
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan says
Using soy granules for meat is a great idea. Awesome pick for I... How many rules you added to your clause? Only savory food alone? wow
kalyani says
I like these meat dishes converted into doable veggie versions ! bookmarkign to try. Use of soya is a good idea for the sauce
mayurisjikoni says
Any new version of pasta is most welcome on our dining table. I like how you've used soy granules to make the sauce.
cookingwithsapana says
Baked pasta in bolognese sauce looks so tasty and I too add minced soya in my bolognese sauce. Lovely recipe.
Priya Srinivasan says
Oh yumm valli,’that is one hearty dish! Cheese and eggplants are lovely combination,’I love how you have placed the meat in the sauce. Looks delicious!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
That is a very well thought dish Valli. Love how many layers of flavors are there in the casserole. I am sure kids would love the crunchy top and the creamy pasta.
Suma Gandlur says
I have to see whether my every day mac n cheese eating daughter would love this infused with layers of flavors.
Simply Tadka says
Wow.. love the layers of cheese and veggies in one pot. classy idea.