Pastitsio (Greek Pasta Bake)

Name: Pastitsio (Greek Pasta Bake)
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 lb ground beef or lamb; 1 large onion - diced; 2 clove garlic - minced; 1 cup tomato sauce (approx 1 - 8 oz can); 1/2 cup dry red wine - I use shiraz; 1 can petite diced tomatoes (14.5 oz can); 1 tbsp parsley; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/4 tsp nutmeg; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1 lb pasta - macaroni or ziti; 4 eggs - divided; 1 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese - divided; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 cup butter (1 stick); 1 cup ap flour; 3 cup milk

craftycookingmama @cook_3743042

Lancaster, PA

Love it! I do prefer a bit more cinnamon but I tone it down for others - def taste & adjust seasoning to your tastes :-)

craftycookingmama @cook_3743042

Lancaster, PA

Love it! I do prefer a bit more cinnamon but I tone it down for others - def taste & adjust seasoning to your tastes :-)

Saved

Ingredients

2 lbground beef or lamb
1 largeonion - diced
2 clovegarlic - minced
1 cuptomato sauce (approx 1 - 8 oz can)
1/2 cupdry red wine - I use shiraz
1 canpetite diced tomatoes (14.5 oz can)
1 tbspparsley
1 tspsalt
1 tspcinnamon
1/4 tspnutmeg
1/4 tsppepper
1 lbpasta - macaroni or ziti
4eggs - divided
1 1/2 cupshredded parmesan cheese - divided
2 tbspolive oil
1/2 cupbutter (1 stick)
1 cupap flour
3 cupmilk

Saved

Steps

1

Preheat oven to 375° and grease/spray a 13x9 baking dish.
2

In a large skillet - brown ground beef and onion. Drain. Add garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
3

Add in tomato sauce, wine, can of undrained diced tomatoes and seasonings. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste - adjust seasoning if desired.
4

While meat is simmering - cook pasta. Do not overcook - pasta should be just shy of al dente.
5

Drain pasta. Return pasta to pot and mix in olive oil, 2 beaten eggs and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
6

Now start the bechamel/white sauce. In a large saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add in flour and whisk until it's a smooth paste. Cook for a minute or two but do not brown.
7

Slowly add in milk and cook for a few minutes, whisking constantly, until sauce thickens.
8

Remove from heat. Season to taste with salt, pepper & a bit of nutmeg. Mix in 2 beaten eggs & remaining 1 cup of parmesan cheese. This will be a very thick sauce - if it's too thick to work with you can add a bit more milk.
9

Assembly time : ) Spread half of the pasta mixture evenly on the bottom of the casserole dish - make sure bottom is completely covered.
10

Evenly spread the entire meat mixture over bottom pasta layer.
11

Top meat with remaining pasta.
12

Pour the bechamel/sauce on top of noodles. With a spoon spread sauce making sure to get edges and corners. Sauce should be nearly to top of casserole dish - you may have a little leftover.
13

Bake for 45 minutes - top will be golden brown. Let rest for 20 minutes before cutting. Enjoy : )