Ingredients

8 ounces penne
2 eggs , lightly beaten
3/4 cup parmesan cheese , grated
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions , chopped
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 3/4 cups tomato puree
1/3 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup beef stock
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 egg , lightly beaten
3/8 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 1/2 cups milk
1 cup parmesan cheese , grated
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs
Pastitsio Just Like My Sister's is a beloved dish in Greek households. Its hearty nature makes it a perfect winter meal and it's also great as leftovers. The dish is essentially a layer of pasta, a layer of meat sauce and a layer of cheese sauce which then gets baked in the oven. While there are many variations of this dish, this version is particularly special because it's a family recipe - just like my sister used to make. It's the perfect comfort food and a great way to introduce your palate to Greek cuisine.

Instructions

1.Preheat oven to 375°F.
2.Cook pasta according to package directions.
3.Combine cooked pasta, 2 beaten eggs and 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese in a mixing bowl and stir well.
4.Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add onions. Cook for about 5 minutes until lightly browned.
5.Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat from the skillet.
6.Add tomato puree, tomato paste, beef stock, wine and cinnamon to the skillet and stir well. Simmer over medium heat for about 15 minutes until sauce thickens.
7.Transfer pasta mixture to a 9x13 inch baking dish and sprinkle with dry breadcrumbs.
8.Pour meat sauce over pasta and spread evenly.
9.Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat and whisk in flour until mixture is smooth. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until mixture thickens.
10.Whisk in 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese and egg yolks.
11.Pour cheese sauce over meat sauce and spread evenly.
12.Bake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

PROS

Pastitsio Just Like My Sister’s is a classic Greek pasta dish that is hearty and extremely flavorful.
It’s perfect for a cozy night in.

CONS

This dish is quite heavy due to the meat and cheese sauce.
It’s not the healthiest option and should be enjoyed in moderation.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

While this dish isn’t particularly healthy, it does provide a good source of protein and calcium from the beef and cheese. The cinnamon in the meat sauce has also been linked to potential health benefits such as improving brain function and reducing inflammation.

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