Laatikko: Finnish Casserole

Ingredients

Butter

2 tablespoons, plus extra for greasing

Salt and pepper

to taste

Breadcrumbs

1/2 cup

Egg

1

Milk

1 cup

Onion

1, finely chopped

Ground beef

1 lb

Carrots

2, peeled and sliced

Potatoes

3, peeled and sliced

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a baking dish with butter.
2. In a large pot of salted water, boil the potatoes and carrots until tender, approximately 10 minutes, then drain and set aside.
3. In a skillet, cook the ground beef and onion over medium heat until the beef is browned and the onion is softened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and egg until well combined.
5. Begin the layering process in the greased baking dish. Start with half of the sliced potatoes and carrots, followed by the cooked ground beef mixture.
6. Add the remaining potatoes and carrots on top of the beef layer.
7. Evenly pour the milk and egg mixture over the layers, ensuring it permeates through the stacked ingredients.
8. To finish, sprinkle breadcrumbs on top and dot with the remaining butter.
9. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
10. After 30 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crisp.
11. Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving. This helps the layers to set and makes it easier to serve.