Serbian Ground Beef, Veggie, and Potato Bake

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 65 min
Servings: 4
Yield: 4 servings

Description

This recreation of a Serbian casserole is made with hamburger meat, potatoes, and vegetables, with added seasonings for a slightly sweet and spicy flavor.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
2 medium celery stalks, chopped
1 medium carrot, shredded
1/2 tablespoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground cloves
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons red wine
1 cube beef bouillon
2 tablespoons half-and-half
2 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a casserole dish.
2 Cook and stir ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer beef and juices to a bowl.
3 Heat oil in the same skillet. Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and carrot; sauté until vegetables are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Return beef to the skillet and season with paprika, black pepper, salt, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, and cloves. Stir in water and wine and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Add bouillon and stir until dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in half-and-half.
4 Layer 1/2 of the potatoes over the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Pour beef and vegetable mixture over potatoes, then layer remaining potatoes over top.
5 Cover the dish and cook in the preheated oven until potatoes are tender, about 45 minutes.