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Pastitsio Recipe

Greek · Main course · 90 min total

A classic Greek baked pasta dish with layers of tubular pasta, a rich meat sauce, and a creamy béchamel topping, baked until golden and bubbly.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450g) bucatini or ziti pasta
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1.5 lbs (680g) ground beef or lamb
• 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup dry red wine
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground allspice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• For the béchamel: 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 4 cups whole milk, 2 large eggs, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, salt to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
4. Add ground meat and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat.
5. Stir in crushed tomatoes, red wine, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
7. In a small bowl, beat eggs. Slowly whisk in about 1 cup of the hot béchamel to temper the eggs, then pour egg mixture back into the saucepan. Add nutmeg and salt. Whisk until smooth.
8. Spread half of the cooked pasta in the prepared dish. Top with the meat sauce. Layer the remaining pasta on top. Pour béchamel over the pasta, spreading evenly. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
9. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until golden and bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Tips

• For a richer flavor, use a mixture of ground beef and lamb.
• Let the pastitsio rest after baking to set the layers for cleaner slices.
• Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.

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