Pastitsio
A Greek baked pasta dish consisting of ziti layered with a cinnamon and clove seasoned meat sauce, feta cheese, and a bechamel sauce.
servings: 6
total time: 1 hour 45 minutes
recipe by: Frankie
Ingredients
- MEAT SAUCE:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup finely diced red onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 whole clove
- 1 TBSP tomato paste
- 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
- PASTA:
- 12 ounces ziti pasta
- 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 large eggs
- 5 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated
- BECHAMEL SAUCE:
- 8 TBSP butter (1 stick)
- 8 TBSP all-purpose flour
- 3 1/2 cups whole milk, room temperature
- 2 egg yolks
- 3 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated
- pinch of nutmeg
Cool Tools For Your Kitchen
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affiliate links to products we use and recommend.
- SEE ON AMAZON
Hand Press Pasta Maker - SEE ON AMAZON
Norpro Spaetzle Maker - SEE ON AMAZON
KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer - SEE ON AMAZON
Zulay Kitchen Stainless Steel Zester - SEE ON AMAZON
Weston Bamboo Pasta Drying Rack - SEE ON AMAZON
Alpha Grillers Garlic Press - SEE ON AMAZON
Stainless Steel Kitchen Tongs - SEE ON AMAZON
Cuisinart 12-Piece Cookware Set - SEE ON AMAZON
OXO Good Grips 10-Piece POP Containers - SEE MORE
Directions
- MEAT SAUCE:
- Cook the ground beef and onions in a dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes or until beef is browned and onions are soft.
- Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook while stirring about 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add the red wine and cook until wine has evaporated, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, cinnamon, bay leaf, clove, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, Put a lid on the pot and reduce heat to low. Simmer covered for about 30 minutes then remove the bay leaf, cinnamon stick and clove.
- WHILE THE MEAT SIMMERS START ON THE PASTA.
- PASTA:
- Cook the pasta about 2 minutes under the cooking time on the box so the pasta doesnt become soggy.
- Drain the pasta and place in a large 9x13 baking dish. Stir the feta cheese and eggs into the pasta and set aside.
- BECHAMEL SAUCE:
- Melt the butter in a large sauce pot over medium-low heat, stir in the flour to combine until no white flour is visible.
- Slowly whisk in the milk until thoroughly combined and there are no lumps.
- Take the pot off of the heat and let rest 1 minute. Quickly whisk in the egg yolks, nutmeg, and the 3 ounces of Parmesan until well incorporated. Season with a little salt and pepper and set aside.
- PUT IT TOGETHER:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Grab the baking dish with pasta and pour the meat sauce over top. Spread the sauce evenly over the pasta.
- Pour the bechamel sauce over top of the meat sauce and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle the remaining 5 ounces of Parmesan evenly over top the bechamel sauce.
- Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until the cheese on top begins to brown.
- Let the pastitsio rest for 5 minutes before serving.
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