Macaroni with Ground Beef

Directions

We start by boiling our macaroni in a deep pot of salted water. The boiling time will depend on the quantity, variety, and ingredients of the macaroni you choose. Remember, just drain the macaroni (reserving some of the water) and transfer it to the pot, drizzling it with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
In a saucepan, heat olive oil over high heat. Add the ground beef and saute until it changes color. Once the beef is browned, remove it from the saucepan and add the chopped onion to saute, followed by the garlic. Once they are sauteed, return the beef to the saucepan, mix well, and deglaze with the wine. Allow some time for the alcohol to evaporate, then add the grated tomato and a little of the reserved water (from boiling the macaroni). Cover the saucepan, reduce the heat, and let it simmer for about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally and add more water if needed.
After the cooking time, remove the bay leaf, cinnamon stick, and allspice berries. Add the dried thyme and sugar, mix well, and let it soften and blend for about 30 minutes.
Before serving, you can top it with grated Kefalotyri or Mizithra cheese.
-If you love cheese, you can layer it in the dish when serving. Start with a layer of grated cheese at the bottom, then add the macaroni, another layer of cheese, followed by the ground beef, and finish with another layer of grated cheese. This way, the cheese will be evenly distributed, and you won't end up with a mountain of cheese on top that falls off when you try to mix it in.
-If you want, you can add 1 grated carrot during the sauteing process. It will add sweetness to your ground beef and give it a more flavorful note.