Cheesy Beef n Spinach Cassata Recipe

Cheesy Beef n Spinach Cassata Recipe

  • 2 pounds ground beef (80 percent lean)
  • 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced, divided
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • 1/3 cup white wine
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 cup dried bread crumbs
  • 10 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted, divided
  • 1 (10 ounce) package frozen thawed spinach
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 8 sheets frozen 14 x 18-inch phyllo pastry leaves, thawed
  • Parsley
  • Ripe olives
  1. Brown ground beef with onion, green pepper and 1 clove garlic in a large frying pan over medium heat; pour off drippings. Sprinkle salt over beef mixture. Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, wine, oregano and pepper; simmer 5 minutes. Stir in breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese; reserve.
  2. Heat one tablespoon butter in another frying pan. Add remaining garlic; cook 1 minute. Add spinach; cover and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in eggs, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese; mix well.
  3. Line a 9-inch springform pan with 6 phyllo leaves, overlapping the edges. Brush lightly with butter. Spoon beef mixture into the pan; top with spinach mixture. Fold edges of phyllo over top. Cut four 9-inch circles from remaining phyllo leaves. Place one circle over filling; Brush will butter. Repeat three times. Cut through leaves to form 8 wedges. Brush with remaining butter. Place pan in shallow baking pan (to catch drippings).
  4. Bake at 350 degrees oven for 35 minutes. Sprinkle remaining two tablespoons of Parmesan cheese over the top; continue baking 10 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes. Remove from springform rim; cut into wedges. Garnish with parsley and olives.