Stellini Pasta with Butter and Mozzarella Cheese

This dish is the perfect marriage of creamy mashed potatoes and savory meat sauce, baked under a blanket of bubbly, melted cheese. It’s hearty, satisfying, and absolute comfort food perfection! 🤗

🛒 Ingredients & 🔪

What You’ll Need (The Essentials):

• For the Meat Sauce (The Bottom Layer):

  • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil 🍾

  • 1 lb Ground Beef or lamb 🥩

  • 1 medium Onion, chopped 🧅

  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced 🧄

  • 1 (14.5 oz) can Crushed Tomatoes 🍅

  • 1/2 cup Beef Broth 🐄💧

  • 1 tsp Dried Oregano 🌿

  • 1 tsp Salt & Black Pepper 🧂⚫

• For the Mashed Potatoes (The Creamy Layer):

  • 4 large Potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold), peeled and chopped 🥔

  • 1/2 cup Milk (whole milk is best) 🥛

  • 4 Tbsp Unsalted Butter 🧈

  • 1/2 tsp Salt 🧂

• The Topping:

  • 1 1/2 cups Shredded Mozzarella or Cheddar Cheese 🧀

Getting Ready (Quick Prep):

1. Preheat your oven to 375∘F (190∘C). 🔥

2. Grease a round or rectangular baking dish (about 8-9 inches round or $8\times 8$ square). 🏆

3. Peel and chop the potatoes 🥔. Chop the onion 🧅 and mince the garlic 🧄.

🥩 Meat Sauce & 🥔 Creamy Mash

Step 1: The Savory Meat Sauce 🍅

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil 🍾 over medium-high heat.

2. Add the ground beef 🥩 and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully browned. Drain off any excess grease. 🗑️

3. Add the chopped onion 🧅 and cook for 5 minutes until soft. Stir in the minced garlic 🧄 and oregano 🌿; cook for 1 minute.

4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes 🍅 and beef broth 🐄💧. Season with salt 🧂 and pepper ⚫.

5. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Set aside.

Step 2: The Velvety Mashed Potatoes 🧈

1. Place the chopped potatoes 🥔 in a large pot and cover them with cold, salted water.

2. Bring to a boil and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender. 🍴

3. Drain the potatoes well. Return them to the hot, empty pot.

4. Add the butter 🧈 and milk 🥛. Mash thoroughly until smooth and creamy. ✨ Season with salt 🧂 to taste.

🧀 Assembly & 📰 Culinary Context

Step 3: Layering the Bake 🏗️

1. Layer 1 (The Base): Spread half of the mashed potatoes 🥔 evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Press down gently.

2. Layer 2 (The Heart): Spread the entire meat sauce 🥩 mixture evenly over the first potato layer.

3. Layer 3 (The Top): Carefully spoon the remaining half of the mashed potatoes 🥔 on top of the meat layer. Use a fork or spatula to gently spread it out, avoiding mixing it with the sauce below.

4. The Crown: Sprinkle the generous layer of shredded cheese 🧀 evenly over the top layer of potatoes. Go for maximum coverage! 🥇

Step 4: Bake to Bubbly Perfection ♨️

1. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, golden brown, and bubbling around the edges. 🔊

2. Remove from the oven and let it stand for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This helps the layers set. ⏳

3. Serve immediately! 🤤

 A Global Affair: The Hearty Roots of Layered Meat Bakes

This layered dish, combining savory ground meat and creamy mashed potatoes, is a classic template for comfort food found in many forms across the globe. It is a brilliant example of how resourceful cooking can create deeply satisfying meals.

• Shepherd’s Pie Lineage: The most famous relative of this dish is undoubtedly the British Shepherd’s Pie (traditionally made with lamb 🐑) or Cottage Pie (made with beef 🐄). These rustic bakes emerged centuries ago as a way to use up leftover roast meats and potatoes. They are the epitome of simple, economical cooking. 🇬🇧

• Mediterranean Influence: The practice of layering meat sauce with starches and topping with cheese is also seen in dishes like the Greek Moussaka (which uses potato and eggplant, topped with a creamy Béchamel sauce) or even Italian-American baked pasta dishes. This layering technique traps moisture and intensifies flavor during the slow bake. 🌍

• The Comfort Factor: The success of the “meat and mash” combination lies in the contrast: the firm, caramelized surface of the melted cheese 🧀 breaks away to reveal the fluffy, soft potatoes 🥔 and the rich, textured meat sauce 🥩. It’s a sensory experience—warm, soft, crunchy, and savory—making it a universally appealing, feel-good meal. ❤️