Not So Basic Tourists

One of the most traditional – and common – home-cooked dishes in Finland is makaronilaatikko. It’s served both at school and at home, in simpler or slightly fancier versions. For many, it also works as comfort food that brings back warm flavor memories from childhood.

With this simple recipe, you can make a straightforward yet melt-in-your-mouth version of this classic. Feel free to adapt the recipe according to your own taste, for example by substituting the meat with soy granules or by adding more spices and grated cheese.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 400 grams of ground beef
• 1 large onion
• Salt, pepper, and paprika powder to taste
• 250 grams of macaroni
• 1 liter of beef stock
• 3 eggs
• (Optional) Grated cheese for the top

Instructions

1. Dice the onion.
2. Fry the ground beef in a pan together with the diced onion.
3. Prepare the beef stock using bouillon cubes or fond.
4. In a separate bowl, lightly whisk the eggs and then mix them into the beef stock.
5. Pour the macaroni, ground beef, onions, and the beef stock–egg mixture into an oven dish. Stir to combine.
6. Place the dish in the oven at 200°C (about 400°F) on the middle rack.
7. Bake for about 50–60 minutes. If you like, you can sprinkle grated cheese on top halfway through baking.
8. Let the casserole rest and cool for about 10 minutes. Serve with grated carrots and ketchup.
   
   Watch the video to see how quickly this makaronilaatikko comes together.
   
   Share your own comfort food tips in the comments. 😊