Greek Pastitsio. Pastitsio is a layered Greek pasta bake topped with white sauce. You can also use a mixture of half minced beef and half minced pork for this recipe, and use penne instead of macaroni. Today, we are talking comfort food, Greek style.
If I were to ask you about a dish that might have defined the holidays for you as a child, what would it be? Greek pastitsio (pastichio/pasticcio/Pastizio) owes its distinctive and rich flavour to the two aromatic spices used in the meat sauce of the traditional pastitsio recipe, which are cinnamon and clove. Once put in the oven, the intense aromas of those spices bring back childhood memories.
Hello everybody, it’s Jim, welcome to my recipe site. Today, I will show you a way to make a special dish, greek pastitsio. It is one of my favorites. This time, I will make it a bit tasty. This will be really delicious.
Greek Pastitsio is one of the most favored of recent trending meals in the world. It’s simple, it’s quick, it tastes delicious. It is appreciated by millions every day. Greek Pastitsio is something that I have loved my whole life. They’re nice and they look wonderful.
Pastitsio is a layered Greek pasta bake topped with white sauce. You can also use a mixture of half minced beef and half minced pork for this recipe, and use penne instead of macaroni. Today, we are talking comfort food, Greek style.
To get started with this particular recipe, we must prepare a few ingredients. You can have greek pastitsio using 32 ingredients and 10 steps. Here is how you cook it.
The ingredients needed to make Greek Pastitsio:
- {Take of Main Ingredients.
- {Take 2 tbsp of margarine, melted.
- {Make ready 2 large of onion, chopped.
- {Take 3 large of carrots, peeled & finely chopped.
- {Take 3 stick of celery, finely chopped.
- {Make ready 4 clove of crushed fresh garlic.
- {Take 2 of bay leaves.
- {Prepare 2 can of chopped tomatoes.
- {Take 2 tbsp of tomato paste.
- {Prepare 1 1/2 cup of beef stock.
- {Make ready 1 tbsp of oregano.
- {Get 1 tsp of ground nutmeg.
- {Take 1 tsp of ground cloves.
- {Get 1 tsp of ground cumin.
- {Prepare 2 tsp of sugar.
- {Get of Freshly ground black pepper.
- {Make ready of Salt.
- {Prepare 2 lb of ground beef (80/20).
- {Get of Pasta.
- {Get 1 lb of ziti, cooked.
- {Get 1 of egg, beaten.
- {Get 2 tbsp of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for topping.
- {Get of Bechamel Sauce.
- {Get 1 quart of milk.
- {Prepare 1 cup of (2 sticks) margarine.
- {Make ready 1 tsp of ground nutmeg.
- {Take 1 cup of all-purpose flour.
- {Get 1 of Salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- {Take 1 tsp of paprika.
- {Get 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
- {Get 2 of eggs, beaten.
- {Take 2 tbsp of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
While the meat is cooking start on the crema (bechamel style sauce). Mix the eggs with the milk in large pot. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. The pasta that is usually used in Greece is a long thin macaroni called Perciatelli.
Instructions to make Greek Pastitsio:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F..
- Meat Sauce Directions:.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, add the butter and saute onion, garlic, carrots, celery until soft and fragrant. Add the ground beef, stirring continuously, until all the meat is cooked and browned. Drain and add the tomatoes, paste, beef stock, bay leaves, herbs and sugar and simmer for a few minutes. Stir in salt & pepper to taste. Let simmer for about 20 minutes, then remove the bay leaves..
- For Pasta:.
- While the meat mixture is simmering, boil the pasta till al dente..
- Mix the beaten egg with the parmesan cheese and toss with cooked & drained pasta..
- For the Bechamel Sauce:.
- Heat the milk in medium saucepan over low heat. In separate medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the margarine, then add the flour and mix well. Stir in the heated milk one tablespoon at a time, and stir until smooth. Stir in spices & cheese. Season to taste. Keep warm until ready to use..
- To Assemble dish:.
- Spray a large casserole dish generously with nonstick spray. Combine pasta with half the Bechamel Sauce. Transfer half of the pasta to baking dish. Spread all the meat sauce over pasta. Cover with remaining pasta. Top with Bechamel Sauce and sprinkle with more grated Parmigiano. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from the oven and let rest about 5 minutes. Serve with salad and crust bread..
If you can't get this then Penne is a good substitute but it is important to use a pasta that has a hole through it as the sauce seeps in and makes it extra delicious. The addition of cinnamon is also important and is an influence of the Ottomans. The Pastitsio (or Pastichio) is a famous Greek pasta bake with a spiced meat sauce and a silky béchamel. It's ideal for a delicious Sunday dinner and it also freezes very well. Nothing speaks family dinner better than Pastitsio!
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