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    Home » Recipes » Pasta

    Makaroni (Persian Spaghetti)

    Published: Nov 7, 2021 by Ayeh Manfre 10 Comments

    JUMP TO RECIPE

    Makaroni is a Persian Spaghetti made using a bolognese style sauce, layered with pasta then cooked to create a crispy bottom called tahdig.

    Makaroni also known as Persian Spaghetti has been one of my favourite dishes since childhood! It reminds me of my grandmother who would always make it for me.

    Iranian makaroni is traditionally made with a meat sauce however I've put my spin on it making it with Vegan Bolognese sauce.

    Once the pasta and sauce are cooked separately, they are then layered in a pot and cooked again together on a low heat. This brings a whole new flavour, without overcooking the pasta.

    The pot is then flipped upside down on a serving platter and it will look like a beautiful spaghetti cake! Of course, I can't forget the best part, the crispy top which is called Tahdig.

    I must admit, a lot of the pasta cooking process goes against all Italian rules. But it just works so well and every bite is so satisfying! My Italian fiancé adores Makaroni, even though it breaks all the rules.

    I love serving Makaroni with a side of Shirazi Salad which gives a nice freshness.

    Jump to:
    • What is Tahdig?
    • What is Advieh made of?
    • Ingredients to make Makaroni
    • How to make Makaroni
    • Tips to make Persian Spaghetti Recipe
    • More Persian Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    What is Tahdig?

    If you’re familiar with Persian food or have seen my recipe for how to make Persian Rice with Tahdig, you will see that we often make Tahdig which translates to bottom of the pot.

    It’s a golden crust that forms at the bottom of the pot during the cooking process and can be made with rice, bread, potatoes and pasta as used in this recipe.

    What is Advieh made of?

    Advieh is a Persian spice mix, which is typically made with a mixture of ground cumin, cinnamon, dried rose petals, nutmeg and cardamom.

    Now you should know, this is how my mum makes it and you will find everyone has their own style of making Advieh. If you prefer to buy it, best to try your local Persian market.

    Ingredients to make Makaroni

    • Pasta, I've used spaghetti, however, the thicker the pasta the better. Bucatini is also commonly used
    • Mushrooms are the main ingredient for the vegan bolognese. I’m using a mix of portobello and brown mushrooms which are more thicker in texture and act as a meat substitute
    • Carrots, celery and onion are all diced up into tiny cubes and create the soffritto which is the base to any bolognese sauce
    • Garlic because it’s always a must in any sauce of of course!
    • Turmeric powder is added for extra flavour. Always ensure to fry it down well to remove any bitterness
    • Tomato paste is concentrated so it brings a richness to the sauce. It does need to be cooked long enough or the flavours to cook down
    • Passata is crushed tomatoes. I like adding it to my vegan bolognese for another level of depth to the sauce
    • Lentils are added for protein. They also have a meaty resemblance. You can use canned or cooked lentils
    • Oregano is added for some earthy herbs
    • Advieh (Persian Spice) is added for the signature flavour. It’s a mix of several spices as mentioned above. An alternative is to add cinnamon and nutmeg.

    How to make Makaroni

    Time needed: 2 hours and 5 minutes.

    1. Make sauce

      In a saucepan prepare your bolognese sauce, traditionally ground meat sauce with beef and or lamb is used however in this recipe I’ve made a vegan bolognese using mushrooms and lentils

    2. Cook pasta

      In a large pot with boiling water, cook pasta until cooked then drain into a colander and rinse pasta with water to remove any excess starch.

    3. Layer it up

      Add olive oil to the bottom of the same pot used for the pasta with ground saffron powder (optional) stir into the oil which should be warm from the pot

      Add a layer of cooked pasta (approximately ⅓ of the pasta), to the bottom of the pot and press down slightly so it’s an even layer

      Spoon 2-3 ladles of the bolognese sauce over the pasta then top with another layer of cooked pasta. Continue the same steps until there is no more pasta left, your final layer should be the sauce.

    4. Cook and serve

      Wrap the lid of the pot with a clean tea towel, and close the lid as usual. Allow pasta to cook on low heat for 45 minutes

      Then increase the heat to medium to high at the end for an extra 5 minutes then gently flip the pot upside down on a large platter. This can be done by placing the platter on the top of the pot and flipping upside down.

      Serve and enjoy!

    Tips to make Persian Spaghetti Recipe

    Vegan Bolognese Sauce

    1. Make sure to cut all the vegetables into the same size pieces so that they cook evenly
    2. Don’t add salt to the mushrooms until after they have browned as this will produce water and make them watery rather than being nicely sautéed
    3. Always ensure to fry the turmeric for a few minutes with the vegetables. This brings out the flavour of the spice and reduces any bitterness
    4. Always sauté the tomato paste down for a few minutes. This will cook down the flavour and will remove any raw tomato taste
    5. As with any bolognese sauce, the longer the sauce is cooked on low heat the better the flavours will develop and taste, however you can do it in less time

    Pasta

    1. I know it sounds criminal to break the spaghetti in half, but this is done so that the pasta is easier to serve and eat with this style of dish
    2. Rinse the cooked pasta under water to remove stickiness. If not, it will be hard and messy when layering the pot
    3. Always make sure to use a non stick pot to avoid the pasta sticking and also to ensure your Tahdig won’t stick to the bottom

    Layer and Cooking

    1. Ensure you add enough oil to the bottom of the pot to ensure the Tahdig will crisp up and not burn or stick to the bottom
    2. Make sure the bottom layer of the makaroni is a thick layer of spaghetti. This is the foundation of the dish. If the sauce is added too low to the bottom of the pot, it will become soggy at the bottom as it eventually drips down
    3. Allow the makaroni to cook in the pot for 45 minutes on low heat. This allows it to steam and cook very slowly rather than becoming overcooked or mushy
    4. Wrapping the lid of the pot with a tea towel is key to capturing the steam. If you don’t do this, the steam will drip back into the pot and can make your pasta mushy

    More Persian Recipes

    • Kashke Bademjan (Persian Eggplant Dip)
    • Shirazi Salad
    • Khoresh Bademjan (Eggplant Stew)
    • Persian Rice with Crispy Tahdig
    • Sabzi Polo (Persian Herb Rice)
    • Makaroni (Persian Spaghetti)

    I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to tag @cookingwithayeh and share your Makaroni photo on Instagram so I can share the love

    Recipe

    4.25 from 20 votes

    Makaroni (Persian Spaghetti)

    Makaroni is a Persian Spaghetti made using a bolognese style sauce, layered with pasta then cooked to create a crispy bottom called tahdig
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time55 mins
    Vegan Bolognese1 hr 15 mins
    Total Time2 hrs 25 mins
    Course: Mains, Pasta
    Cuisine: Italian, Persian
    Keyword: hearty, persian, tahdig
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 590kcal
    Author: Ayeh
    Pin Print Rate

    Ingredients

    • 360 g spaghetti pasta
    • 350 g mushrooms - I’ve used a mix of portobello and Swiss brown mushrooms
    • 2 small carrots
    • 2 celery sticks
    • 1 white onion
    • 4 garlic cloves
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric
    • ¼ cup tomato paste
    • ½ cup passata
    • 2 cups water
    • ½ cup lentils
    • ½ teaspoon advieh (Persian spice) or ¼ teaspoon each of cinnamon and nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon tsp dried oregano
    • 3-4 tablespoon Olive oil
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    Vegan Bolognese Sauce

    • Chop mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion and garlic all into small cubes
    • Heat olive oil in a large pan or pot and add all the mushrooms. Saute over a high heat and once browned, season with salt and pepper and remove mushrooms from the pan
    • In the same pan, add a tablespoon of olive oil, onions, celery and carrots
      Season with salt and pepper and sauté for 5 minutes until the onions are translucent
    • Add the garlic along with turmeric powder and sauté for a few minutes
      Then add the tomato paste and make sure to fry this down for a few minutes with the vegetables
      Add the passata and 2 cups of water, season with salt and pepper
    • At this time, add ½ a teaspoon of Persian spice mix called Advieh (information on ingredients above on blog)
      Another alternative is to add ¼ a teaspoon each of cinnamon and nutmeg.
      Add oregano and mushrooms and allow the sauce to simmer for 45 minutes on a low- medium heat for the flavours to develop
    • Once the sauce has been simmering, add ½ a cup of cooked or canned lentils. If the sauce is too thick, you can add more water if necessary. Allow to cook for 15 minutes

    Pasta

    • Boil a pot of heavily salted water. Break spaghetti in half (yes you read right! hehe) and add to the pot
    • Once pasta is cooked, drain in a colander and rinse under water (it feels criminal I know hehe)

    Layer ingredients and cook

    • Add a generaous amount of olive oil to the bottom of the same pot used for the pasta and ¼ teaspoon of ground saffron powder (optional) mix into the oil which should be warm from the pot
    • Add a layer of cooked pasta (approximately ⅓ of the pasta) to the bottom of the pot and press down slightly so it’s an even layer
    • Spoon 2-3 ladles of the bolognese sauce over the pasta then top with another layer of cooked pasta. Continue the same steps until there is no more pasta left, then finish with the top layer being the bolognese sauce
    • Wrap the lid of the pot with a clean tea towel, and close the lid as usual. Allow pasta to cook on low heat for 45 minutes
    • Increase the heat to medium to high at the end for an extra 5 minutes then gently flip the pot upside down on a large platter. This can be done by placing the platter on the top of the pot and flipping it upside down
    • Cut out pieces of the Tahdig (crispy base) to share evenly, serve and enjoy your Makaroni!

    Video

    Notes

    Note you may have extra bolognese sauce after layering the pasta to be cooked depending on how saucy you like it.
    You can store in the freezer to use next time.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 590kcal | Carbohydrates: 99g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 189mg | Potassium: 1131mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 4609IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 5mg

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Deborah Ribeiro

      November 09, 2021 at 11:56 am

      I was wondering if you think substituting ghee for oil would work as it can withstand heat. I also would like to ask whether you have ever tried using any gluten free pastas and if so which type seemed to work best.? The seasonings sound delicious and I am looking forward to trying to make it using these adapted few ingredients.

      Reply
      • Ayeh

        November 29, 2021 at 7:14 pm

        Sure dear, you can also use ghee. I havnt tried GF pasta with this dish yet myself but if you do, would love to hear the feedback 🙂

        Reply
    2. Nahid

      November 17, 2021 at 9:35 am

      5 stars
      My sister and I have always loved Macaroni. It's been one of our favorite Persian foods since childhood.

      Reply
      • Ayeh

        November 18, 2021 at 10:36 pm

        Aww me too aziz!! Its one of my all time favourites xxxx

        Reply
    3. Michelle

      June 26, 2022 at 12:52 pm

      5 stars
      Oh WOW! I have to say this was DELICIOUS! The flavors were great even though I was a little worried about the cinnamon and nutmeg but being a fellow Persian and knowing how important spices are to our dishes I trusted the process. Unfortunately, my flip didn’t work great. Everything kinda just fell out and spread out and I had to scrape out the tadig. Any tips? I was thinking maybe that means it needed longer to cook. But seriously thank you so much for making this recipe. It brought back such fond memories and I love that it’s vegan! Merci!

      Reply
      • Ayeh

        July 04, 2022 at 9:11 pm

        Hi Aziz, so happy you loved the flavours and it took you back to memories 🙂 To get the best tahdig, the tip is to cook it nice and slow for at least 45 mins and to make sure to add enough oil at the bottom xxx

        Reply
    4. Orkideh

      December 21, 2022 at 2:52 am

      5 stars
      This recipe was perfection! And boy did it take me back to my childhood. Thank you! ❤️

      Reply
      • Ayeh Manfre

        December 21, 2022 at 5:58 am

        Awww me too! Reminds me of my grandma making it for me 🙂 So happy you liked it xx

        Reply
    5. May

      March 13, 2023 at 2:48 am

      I have tried it and it is the best!!! Got lots of compliments when I served it to

      Reply
      • Ayeh Manfre

        March 13, 2023 at 7:30 am

        Yay so thrilled!!!

        Reply

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