Pastitsio. Get Pastitsio Recipe from Food Network. If you want to test the waters, try adding half the amount of cinnamon called for in the recipe. Pastitsio is a layered Greek casserole of macaroni and seasoned ground lamb, topped with a thick cream sauce.
Pastitsio is a favorite traditional Greek dinner recipe. It's a Greek version of lasagna- characterized by a white and creamy bechamel sauce used in place of marinara and a hint of cinnamon. And I think you'll find that this is one of the most delicious dinner recipes you've ever had! You can cook Pastitsio using 20 ingredients and 13 steps. Here is how you cook it.
Ingredients of Pastitsio
- You need 1/2 cup of Olive Oil.
- Prepare 2 lb of Ground Beef.
- Prepare 1 cup of Dry White Wine.
- You need 14 oz of Tomato Puree.
- You need 1 large of Yellow Onion.
- It's 3 tbsp of Chopped Fresh Parsey.
- It's 1/2 tsp of Ground Allspice.
- Prepare 1 1/2 cup of Grated Parmesan Cheese.
- You need 3 tbsp of Breadcrumbs.
- You need 1 packages of Elbow Macaroni.
- You need 4 of Egg Whites.
- It's 1 of Unsalted Butter.
- It's 1 of Salt and Pepper to taste.
- It's 1 tsp of Ground Cinnamon.
- You need of Bechamel Sauce.
- You need 1 cup of Unsalted Butter.
- You need 1 cup of All Purpose Flour.
- You need 1 quart of Milk, warmed.
- You need 8 of Yolks, lightly beaten.
- You need 1 pinch of Nutmeg.
Pastitsio is one of my favorite baked pasta dishes. My husband made this recipe for us a couple of months ago. It's not my favorite version; I found the cream sauce way too starchy and pasty. I also thought tossing the pasta with butter & parmesan made it a little too heavy and rich-tasting.
Pastitsio instructions
- Heat olive oil in large saute pan. Add ground beef and cook over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent..
- Add wine, tomato sauce, parsley, allspice, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Allow to simmer over low heat 10 minutes. While sauce is simmering cook pasta..
- Rinse noodles to cool slightly..
- Stir breadcrumbs into meat sauce to absorb extra liquid. Remove from heat..
- Melt 1/2 cup of butter in pasta pot and return noodles to the pot. Stir in beaten egg whites and 1 cup of Parmesan cheese. Toss lightly, do not break noodles..
- Brush pan with olive oil. Layer bottom with half the noodles. and press down firmly. to make flat..
- Layer beef evenly over pasta. Layer remaining pasta over beef..
- Preheat oven to 350°F and start preparing Bechamel Sauce..
- Melt butter in sauce pan over low heat. Using a whisk add flour continuously stirring to make smooth. Allow mixture to cook not brown..
- Add warm milk in a steady stream, whisking continuously. Simmer over low heat until thickened but does not boil..
- Remove from heat and add in beaten yolks. Add a pinch of nutmeg..
- Bechamel Sauce is thicker than gravy but not as thick as pudding. Pour sauce over noodles making sure to pour down into the corners. Layer with Parmesan cheese..
- Bake 45 minutes or until golden..
Pasta for Greek Pastitsio Greek Pastitsio recipe - Prepare the meat sauce. 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. Pastitsio is a common dish, and is often served as a main course, with a salad. [citation needed] Cyprus. In Cyprus, it is an essential dish during weddings and celebrations such as Easter, where it is served along with spit roasted meat.