Pastitsio

Pst! Hey you wanna know a secret Pastitsio is the Greek version of lasagna! Sh! Dont tell.
Directions for: Pastitsio

Ingredients

Meat Sauce

cup olive oil (60 ml)

2 onions, finely chopped

1-pounds lean ground beef (681g)

2 clove garlic, chopped

cup dry red wine (125 ml)

Several sprigs fresh thyme, stems removed

2 bay leaves

1 tsp dried Greek oregano (5 ml)

1 28 oz can plum tomatoes with juice, chopped (798 ml)

tsp ground cinnamon (2 ml)

Pinch ground cloves

Coarse salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Pasta

1 lb(s) rigatoni (454 g)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Bechamel

cup butter (150 ml)

cup + 2 tbsp. flour (180 ml)

5 cup homogenized or 2 % milk

Coarse salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Pinch freshly grated nutmeg

cup freshly grated Parmesan (125 ml)

6 eggs, lightly beaten

Assembly

Olive oil, for brushing the baking dish

Directions

Meat Sauce

1. in a large skillet, heat olive oil on medium high heat. Add the onion and saut until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the beef and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until meat is well browned. Add the garlic and reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 2 minutes to soften garlic.

2. Deglaze the pan with the red wine and add the herbs, spices and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, 40 to 45 minutes or until sauce is thickened. Adjust seasoning. Set aside cup sauce for the bchamel.

3. Cook pasta in a large pot of rolling boiling salted water for about 8 to 9 minutes or until al dente. Drain pasta and toss it with the meat sauce in a large bowl. Add the 2 beaten eggs and toss well to combine. Reserve.

Pasta Bechamel

1. Melt butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot on medium heat. Add the flour and whisk to combine. Cook for 2 minutes or until smooth. Remove pot from heat and add cold milk in very small batches whisking each time until smooth. Return to heat and whisk constantly on medium heat until mixture boils and thickens, about 4 to 5 minutes. Season the bchamel with salt, pepper and nutmeg.

2. Remove from heat and gradually whisk in beaten eggs stirring briskly. Stir in grated Parmesan and the reserved cup meat sauce.

Assembly

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Oil a 13x9x3-inch deep baking dish. Top with pasta mixture. Cover with bchamel. Bake until top is golden brown and set, about 1 hour. Let stand about 15 minutes before serving.

See more: Beef, Main, Dinner, Lunch, Pasta, Greek, Tomatoes