Pastitsio (Oamc)

May 08, 2023May 8, 20230 2
Traditional Greek Pastitsio recipe for dinner tonight
in Greek

Prep

20 min

Cook

1 hr 30 min

Ready In

1 hr 50 min

Level

Difficult

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
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Ingredients

enough olive oil , to just coat the bottom of a large pot
2 large onions , finely chopped
3 garlic cloves , minced
2 lbs lean ground meat ( I often use a combo of beef and pork , lamb would be good too , but go heavier on the beef )
2 cans diced tomatoes with juice ( concasse )
1/3 cup chopped pitted kalamata olive ( optional )
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup red wine
1 cinnamon stick , broken in two
1 lb penne or 1 lb rigatoni pasta
3 tablespoons melted butter
2 cups whole milk
2 eggs , beaten
1/2 1/2 cup romano cheese or 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
6 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup flour
4 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 eggs
1/2 1/2 lb romano cheese or 1/2 lb parmesan cheese , divided

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
8-10
Calories
790
Sugar
6g
Fat
49g
Pastitsio is a popular Greek comfort food that is typically served for dinner. It consists of layers of pasta, meat sauce, and a creamy béchamel sauce. The meat sauce is flavored with garlic, onions, oregano, red wine, and cinnamon to give it a rich and complex flavor. The béchamel sauce is made with eggs, milk, and romano cheese, which gives it a slightly tangy flavor. All of these layers are baked until they are golden brown and bubbly, creating a delicious and hearty meal that is perfect for any occasion.

Instructions

1.Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2.Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
3.While the pasta is cooking, heat enough olive oil to just coat the bottom of a large pot over medium heat.
4.Add the onions and garlic and sauté until they are translucent.
5.Add the ground meat to the pot and cook until it's browned.
6.Add in the diced tomatoes, kalamata olives, salt, pepper, oregano, bay leaf, red wine, and cinnamon stick. Stir to combine.
7.Reduce the heat to low and simmer the meat sauce for 20 minutes.
8.Remove the bay leaf and cinnamon stick from the pot.
9.In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, melted butter, whole milk, and romano cheese.
10.Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
11.Pour the egg mixture over the pasta and toss to combine.
12.Pour half of the pasta mixture into a large baking dish.
13.Top with all of the meat sauce.
14.Pour the remaining pasta mixture on top of the meat sauce.
15.In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
16.Add in the flour and whisk until a paste forms.
17.Gradually whisk in the milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
18.Cook the sauce until it thickens, stirring frequently.
19.Remove the sauce from heat and whisk in the eggs and half of the romano cheese.
20.Pour the sauce over the pasta and meat mixture.
21.Sprinkle the remaining romano cheese over the top of the sauce.
22.Bake the Pastitsio for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

PROS

Pastitsio is a comforting and flavorful Greek dish that combines meat, pasta, and creamy béchamel sauce.

It can be made in advance and reheated for a quick and easy dinner.

CONS

This dish is high in calories and fat, so it should be enjoyed in moderation.

It may not be suitable for those with lactose intolerance or gluten allergies.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

Despite its high calorie and fat content, Pastitsio can still be a good source of protein and calcium.
It can also be made with leaner meats and lower-fat dairy products to make it slightly healthier.

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