Potato casserole in milk sauce
Casserole made from raw potatoes, in my opinion, tastes better than mashed potatoes. True, it takes a little longer to prepare. Another important condition is that the casserole needs to sit in a hot oven after cooking. It is necessary that the potato slices, sauce and minced meat “stick” together. Then, when cutting, you will get even and neat pieces. You can add fried mushrooms or slices of zucchini to the casserole in a separate layer. Or, when the casserole is almost ready, sprinkle with grated cheese.
Finely chop 3 onions and fry in a small amount of vegetable oil until soft.
Place minced meat in a frying pan. Fry until lightly browned. Add salt and spices (I use a ready-made spice mixture for minced meat). Pour some water and leave to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Meanwhile, peel and cut the potatoes into thin slices. Peel the remaining onion and cut into half rings.
In a glass of cold milk, dilute 2 tablespoons of flour. Pour the rest of the milk into a saucepan and put on fire. We collect all the fat that has been rendered from the minced meat with a spoon and add it to the milk. Add salt if necessary. As soon as the milk begins to boil, add the diluted flour and stir vigorously so that no lumps form. It is very convenient to work with a whisk. The sauce begins to thicken quite quickly. Let it boil and remove from heat.
Place the potatoes overlapping in a heat-resistant dish, lightly greased with vegetable oil. The layer should be quite dense.
Spread the onions on top.
Then we spread the minced meat and cover it with potatoes again.
Pour hot milk sauce over the casserole and place in the oven for 55-60 minutes. It is not necessary to turn on the oven in advance.
Depending on the type of potato and the thickness of the slices, it may take a little more or a little less time.
Checking the potatoes. If it becomes soft, turn off the oven and leave the casserole for another half hour. During this time it will cool down a little and thicken. And cutting it into pieces will become more convenient.
Serve with fresh vegetables.