Pastitsio is a layered, baked meat and pasta dish from Greek. Authentic recipes call for ground lamb and cinnamon in the sauce, but this version is adapted for our southern U.S. tastes.
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 1 hourhour5 minutesminutes
Total Time 1 hourhour15 minutesminutes
Servings 4servings
Ingredients
8ounceselbow macaroni or other tube-shaped pasta
1poundground beef
1medium onionchopped
1clovegarlicminced
8ouncestomato sauce
1teaspoonsaltdivided
½teaspoondried oregano
¼teaspoonground black pepper
½cupgrated Parmesan cheese
3tablespoonsbutter
3tablespoonsall-purpose flour
1 ½cupsmilk
1egglightly beaten
1cupshredded Italian 6-cheese blendor grated mozzarella
Instructions
Cook the pasta according to the package directions. While the pasta cooks, make the meat sauce.
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the beef and onion and cook until the beef is no longer pink. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Drain off the excess fat and return the pan to the heat.
Stir in the tomato sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, oregano, and pepper. Stir until combined and heated through.
Spray a 9” square baking dish with cooking spray. Drain the pasta. Add half the pasta to the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half the Parmesan cheese. Layer the meat sauce over the pasta. Top with the remaining pasta. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until smooth. Gradually add the milk. Bring the mixture to a gentle bowl and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat.
Break the egg into a small bowl and beat it lightly. Add a small amount of the hot butter-flour mixture to the beaten egg, beating constantly with a fork. Return the egg mixture to the butter-flour mixture in the pan and cook at a gentle boil, stirring constantly, for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining Parmesan cheese.
Pour the sauce over the macaroni-beef layers in the baking dish. Sprinkle the shredded Italian blend cheese over the top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 15 minutes of cooking time.Let stand 10 minutes before serving.