Pastitsio is a delicious Greek lasagna dish. It features layers of cheesy, tubular pasta and spiced meat sauce topped with a creamy béchamel. Needless to say, it makes for a hearty and flavorful meal. As with all traditional recipes, there are many ways to make it. Here's one version of the dish along with ideas for ingredient substitutions.
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Spiced Meat Sauce
Things You'll Need
2 lbs. ground beef or lamb
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
28 oz. canned tomato sauce
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 tsp. white sugar
2 bay leaves
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1. Brown the ground beef
In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef and onions. Cook until the beef is browned, about 8 to 10 minutes, while breaking it up with a spatula. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute. Drain the excess grease if desired.
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2. Add the sauce ingredients
Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, bay leaves and spices. Mix well and simmer until thick, about 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside.
Greek Béchamel Sauce
Things You'll Need
8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 1/2 cups whole milk
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 cup grated Kefalotyri or Pecorino Romano cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1. Melt the butter
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.
2. Whisk the flour and butter
Add the flour. Whisk until thick and lightly golden.
3. Add the milk
Slowly add the milk, 1/3 at a time, while constantly whisking. Whisk until no lumps remain.
4. Add the additional ingredients
Add the salt, pepper and grated cheese. Whisk until smooth and melted. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 to 7 minutes.
5. Beat the eggs
If you haven't already, lightly beat the eggs. Add them to the sauce and stir until combined and thick. Set aside.
Pasta Layer
Things You'll Need
1 package (500 grams) pastitsio noodles
4 to 5 Tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese or crumbled feta
2 eggs, lightly beaten
Tip
You can substitute the pastitsio noodles with 16 ounces penne, ziti or macaroni. These options will change the appearance of the final dish but not the flavor.
1. Boil the pasta
Bring a pot of water to a boil and then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
2. Toss the pasta
Drain the pasta. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of olive oil and then gently toss to coat the noodles. This will keep the pasta from sticking together.
3. Add additional ingredients
If you haven't already, lightly beat the eggs. Add the cheese and beaten eggs to the pasta. Gently toss until evenly combined.
How to Assemble Homemade Pastitsio
Things You'll Need
Olive oil
Cooked pastitsio noodles
Spiced meat sauce
Greek béchamel sauce
Grated Kefalotyri or Pecorino Romano cheese for garnish
1. Arrange the noodles
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a large casserole dish with olive oil. Place the cooked noodles in the dish, arranging them in the same direction.
2. Add the meat sauce
Spoon the meat sauce over the noodles. Spread the sauce in an even layer.
3. Top with béchamel
Pour the béchamel on top. Again, spread the sauce in an even layer. Top with extra grated cheese if desired.
4. Bake
Bake for 40 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden brown. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!