Persian makaroni with tahdig recipe
 An Iranian pasta dish made with beef mince and tomato sauce with a layer of crispy potato, known as tahdig. 300g/10½oz dried penne pasta200g/7oz mushrooms, chopped1 lemon, juice onlyolive oil2–3 onions, chopped1 garlic clove, chopped3 peppers, chopped (red, yellow and green)500g/1lb 2oz beef mince1 tsp dried thyme1 tsp paprika½ tsp ground cinnamon½ tsp ground cumin4 tbsp tomato purée½ tsp ground turmeric2-3 potatoes, sliced into 1cm discssea salt and freshly ground black pepper 300g/10½oz dried penne pasta 200g/7oz mushrooms, chopped 1 lemon, juice only olive oil 2–3 onions, chopped 1 garlic clove, chopped 3 peppers, chopped (red, yellow and green) 500g/1lb 2oz beef mince 1 tsp dried thyme 1 tsp paprika ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground cumin 4 tbsp tomato purée ½ tsp ground turmeric 2-3 potatoes, sliced into 1cm discs sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Method Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions and set to one side. Put the mushrooms in a small bowl and pour over the lemon juice, set aside to soak. This helps the mushrooms keep their light colour while cooking. Preheat a large pan over medium heat. Drizzle in some olive oil and fry the onions until translucent. Add the garlic and peppers and continue cooking for about 10 minutes until the vegetables have softened. Add the beef mince to the pan and fry until browned. Add the thyme, paprika, cinnamon, cumin and season with black pepper.Drain any excess lemon juice from the mushrooms before adding to the pan. Add the tomato purée to a small frying pan over a medium heat and lightly fry until it becomes slightly thicker and darker. Add this to the beef and vegetable mixture and stir to coat, season with salt to taste.Add more olive oil to a lidded medium-sized shallow pan with a lid and sprinkle in the turmeric, then lay the potato discs flat on the bottom.Mix the beef mince mixture and cooked pasta together in the pan, then place on top of the potatoes.Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook over a low heat for 45 minutes.Once cooked, remove the lid and quickly but carefully flip the pan upside down onto a plate or tray.Serve like a savoury upside down pasta cake. Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions and set to one side. Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions and set to one side. Put the mushrooms in a small bowl and pour over the lemon juice, set aside to soak. This helps the mushrooms keep their light colour while cooking. Put the mushrooms in a small bowl and pour over the lemon juice, set aside to soak. This helps the mushrooms keep their light colour while cooking. Preheat a large pan over medium heat. Drizzle in some olive oil and fry the onions until translucent. Add the garlic and peppers and continue cooking for about 10 minutes until the vegetables have softened. Preheat a large pan over medium heat. Drizzle in some olive oil and fry the onions until translucent. Add the garlic and peppers and continue cooking for about 10 minutes until the vegetables have softened. Add the beef mince to the pan and fry until browned. Add the thyme, paprika, cinnamon, cumin and season with black pepper. Add the beef mince to the pan and fry until browned. Add the thyme, paprika, cinnamon, cumin and season with black pepper. Drain any excess lemon juice from the mushrooms before adding to the pan. Drain any excess lemon juice from the mushrooms before adding to the pan. Add the tomato purée to a small frying pan over a medium heat and lightly fry until it becomes slightly thicker and darker. Add this to the beef and vegetable mixture and stir to coat, season with salt to taste. Add the tomato purée to a small frying pan over a medium heat and lightly fry until it becomes slightly thicker and darker. Add this to the beef and vegetable mixture and stir to coat, season with salt to taste. Add more olive oil to a lidded medium-sized shallow pan with a lid and sprinkle in the turmeric, then lay the potato discs flat on the bottom. Add more olive oil to a lidded medium-sized shallow pan with a lid and sprinkle in the turmeric, then lay the potato discs flat on the bottom. Mix the beef mince mixture and cooked pasta together in the pan, then place on top of the potatoes. Mix the beef mince mixture and cooked pasta together in the pan, then place on top of the potatoes. Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook over a low heat for 45 minutes. Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook over a low heat for 45 minutes. Once cooked, remove the lid and quickly but carefully flip the pan upside down onto a plate or tray. Once cooked, remove the lid and quickly but carefully flip the pan upside down onto a plate or tray. Serve like a savoury upside down pasta cake. Serve like a savoury upside down pasta cake.