Greek Pastitsio - mince and pasta bake with cheese sauce
User Reviews
4.5
18 reviews
Excellent
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
1 hr 10 mins
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Total Time
1 hr 40 mins
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Servings
4 -6 servings
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Greek
Greek Pastitsio - mince and pasta bake with cheese sauce
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Greek Pastitsio recipe - beef mince and pasta bake
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Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion peeled and finely diced
- 2 large garlic cloves grated or minced
- 500 g lean beef or lamb mince
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 bay leaf
- pinch cloves
- 175 ml | 6 fl oz white wine or vegetable stock
- 1 tsp white wine vinegar
- 400 g | 14oz chopped tomatoes in tomato sauce
- 5 tbsp tomato paste
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 400 g | 14oz macaroni or penne pasta
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- <b>For the cheese sauce</b>
- 25 g | 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp plain all purpose flour
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 300 ml | 10 fl oz whole milk
- 50 g | scant 2oz grated Grana Padano or Parmesan cheese plus 1 tbsp for topping
- 50 g | scant 2oz finely grated strong cheddar cheese or feta cheese crumbled
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- large pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a lage pot over medium-low heat and cook the onion and garlic for 5 minutes.
- Add the lamb or beef mince and brown for 5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
- Stir in the spices, herbs, cinnamon stick and bay leaf.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, wine and vinegar. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened. Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaf.
- Cook the pasta until it is al dente – cooked but with a bit of a bite. Rinse, drain and mix with the meat sauce.
- Pack into a large ovenproof dish.
- Make the cheese sauce. Melt the butter in a pan and whisk in the flour and mustard powder. Cook over low heat for two minutes.
- Gradually add the milk and whisk it in.
- Add the cheeses and whisk to combine until melted.
- Remove from the heat and gradually whisk in the beaten eggs and nutmeg.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and place the dish on a large baking tray.
- Bake for 30 minutes in. 180C /350F preheated oven then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of grated cheese and the dried thyme. Bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese layer is set.
- Cool for 10 minutes and serve with a green salad or steamed vegetables.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
18 reviews
Excellent
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