Pastitsio - Greek-style Lasagna
User Reviews
4.2
126 reviews
Good
-
Prep Time
20 mins
-
Cook Time
2 hrs 20 mins
-
Servings
9 portions
-
Calories
855 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Greek
Pastitsio - Greek-style Lasagna
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Pastitsio is a scrumptious Greek pasta bake with layers of macaroni, spiced ground meat + tomato sauce, and Greek Bechamel cream with cheese!
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Ingredients
For The Ground Meat Sauce:
- olive oil
- 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) ground meat (I'm using half pork and half beef)
- 1 large onion minced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 4½ tablespoons tomato paste
- 400 grams (14 ounce) canned diced tomatoes crushed tomatoes or fresh diced tomatoes
- ⅔ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 stick of cinnamon
- 2 bay leaves
- coarse sea salt
- ground pepper
- Optional: ⅔ teaspoon sugar
For The Greek Bechamel Cream:
- 120 grams (8 tablespoons) butter
- 120 grams (1 cup) flour
- 1400 ml milk lukewarm
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 170 grams grams (6 ounces) Greek Kefalotyri cheese or Parmesan, Pecorino, or Romano cheese
- ⅓ teaspoon ground nutmeg
For The Pasta:
- 500 grams (17.6 ounces) Macaroni No.2 for Pastitsio
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Instructions
Make the Ground Meat Sauce:
- Heat a splash of olive oil in a cooking pot over high heat.
- Saute onion until softened. Then add the garlic.
- Add the ground meat. Season with coarse sea salt and ground pepper.
- Break up the meat using a wooden spoon, until browned and drained from its juices.
- Stir in the tomato paste, ground cloves, allspice, and cinnamon stick. Cook for a minute.
- Add the diced tomatoes and the bay leaves. Pour in 4 cups of hot water.
- Simmer covered for about an hour over medium-low heat. Towards the end uncover the pot and allow the sauce to thicken. Meanwhile, make the cream.
Make The Bechamel Cream:
- Melt butter in a saucepan over moderate heat.
- Add the flour. Cook until it looks sandy for about 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Pour in the milk and add the nutmeg. Cook stirring often until the cream thickens. Scrape the sides and walls of the cooking pot where flour tends to stick.
- Set aside for 10 minutes to cool.
- Whisk in the eggs and ⅔ of the grated cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
For The Pasta:
- Boil pasta al dente following package instructions.
Put Together:
- Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F.
- I used a 14 x 11 x 3-inch (36 x 28 x 7) pan. You can use a slightly bigger but not smaller pan.
- Save ¼ of the cooked pasta and spread the remaining in the pan. Try to arrange it to face toward one direction as much as possible (for visual purposes).
- Spread the ground meat sauce on top. Then add the ¼ of the pasta you saved.
- Ladle the cream and spread it evenly with a spoon.
- Sprinkle the remaining ⅓ of the grated cheese all over on top.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until honey-colored on top on the lowest rack of the oven.
- Allow to cool and set for at least 30 to 45 minutes at room temperature.
- Cut, serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1serving
Calories
855kcal
(43%)
Carbohydrates
66g
(22%)
Protein
43g
(86%)
Fat
46g
(71%)
Saturated Fat
22g
(110%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
16g
Trans Fat
2g
Cholesterol
219mg
(73%)
Sodium
671mg
(28%)
Potassium
915mg
(26%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
13g
(26%)
Vitamin A
1030IU
(21%)
Vitamin C
7mg
(8%)
Calcium
497mg
(50%)
Iron
5mg
(28%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 9portions
Amount Per Serving
Calories 855 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 855kcal | 43% |
| Carbohydrates | 66g | 22% |
| Protein | 43g | 86% |
| Fat | 46g | 71% |
| Saturated Fat | 22g | 110% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Trans Fat | 2g | 100% |
| Cholesterol | 219mg | 73% |
| Sodium | 671mg | 28% |
| Potassium | 915mg | 19% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 13g | 26% |
| Vitamin A | 1030IU | 21% |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 497mg | 50% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.2
126 reviews
Good
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